Author: Sarah Clark
I first met Jeff and Melissa when we joined Milburn Country Club. I wasn't in Melissa's circle of friends at the time, but I knew I wanted to be! She had so much energy and was always having so much fun, as mentioned in previous posts she was the life of the party!! We had several fun summers together at Milburn with some wild swim team after parties. The motto was always "Win or Lose We Still Booze!"
Fast forward a few years, as Jeff and Melissa paved the way at Indian Hills Country Club for us. They were so welcoming when we joined! Melissa had a group of friends that instantly became my group of friends. She included in me in everything she did with bridge, book club, swim team, club activities, etc. We became such close friends that we decided to chair swim team together. Shortly after we made that commitment Melissa was diagnosed with breast cancer. The most amazing thing is that it never got in her way. She wouldn't let it. She kept doing everything no matter how bad she felt. We had a lot of great moments sitting and chatting during her chemo treatments planning for summer swim team. I knew she was scared, but she never once acted scared - something I was always in awe of. Even in the end when I asked her if she was scared, she just smiled and said no.
I have so many wonderful memories with Melissa. Almost all of them include dancing on stage, placing objects in our bras, or the countless evenings in the ADR room. It's the one place on earth where time stood still. Melissa and Jeff would turn back the clock so that nobody would really know how late it was. We would dance on the coffee table into the wee hours of the morning until one time Fred danced on it with his snow boots and it cracked in half. Melissa loved things that would light up, and so did I. If we got our hands on light sticks...watch out! We wouldn't stop using them with our creative dance moves until they burned out. With the approach of Melissa's birthday...I have fond memories of the joint birthday parties that we would have. I loved celebrating my birthday with Melissa. Melissa was beautiful inside and out. She always was doing something for others. Whether it was a sick friend, a worthy cause, or just a friend in need, Melissa was always there. I miss her beautiful smile. I miss having her to call when I am having a bad day, or when I just want to talk about something. She was a wonderful friend. She was so proud of her family and loved being a mother to Addie and Brooks. Sometimes I think I see her and I get excited...but then I realize it was just someone who looked like her. I can't wait to see her again some day. I know that she is looking down on all of us, waiting for us to join her party in heaven.
Comments