Donna and I met the summer of 1980. I had just moved back from Louisiana and began going to Church where she seemed to be active as a leader to the girls my age. She had already graduated college and begun teaching and she had her own place. She was a devoted Christian Lady and she took me under her wing as a kid sister. We became close and I had great respect for her. We both were dating men who were friends and after I graduated high school she helped me plan my wedding. She put it all together on a budget for me because I knew my parents couldn't afford anything glamorous. It turned out to be beautiful.

 Donna has stood by my side during the darkest days of my life. It was her face I seen when I came out from the hospital room when Dad had passed away. If there is a crisis in my life, she is there. She is the most loyal and dependable person I know. When I think of our friendship, this background kind of fit perfect. We are both plain, down to earth and our friendship is like an old fashioned traditional kind. I love that about us. Donna is funny, inspiring, a great listener, committed, dedicated, dependable, and a great example. She is truly a blessing from God in my life.

Our families have remained friends and we have always enjoyed getting together for big dinners and board games or going all out together. Some of my favorite memories of our friendship is in our early married years both our husbands worked graveyard and we lived on the same street. When I heard what I thought was a prowler one night, Donna came over and stayed the night with me as we both crawled in bed and tried to forget how scared we were. Then another time when I showed up for Church I noticed a huge runner down one side of my hose. Donna's dress was way longer than mine and so we swapped pantyhose in the bathroom so the runner wouldn't show on her legs as it did mine! Now that's a friend!

"YOU WERE THERE FOR ME"
© Erin Porter