MEETING SHERRI
Over the course of our 11 years together, Sherri met countless people, and always had kind words and hugs for them. She was the welcoming committee for new dancers, and genuinely loved everyone she met. She always seemed to be smiling, and you couldn’t help but smile back at her. She was truly the sweetest woman on the planet, and soon became my closest friend within my dance group. When I discovered she was my sister in Christ, my happiness was complete. And by the way, her hair always looked perfect. Even while line dancing in the rain!
EXPERIENCES WITH SHERRI
I could, and did, talk to Sherri about anything. She was my #1 go-to person. She was not only my friend, but my sister, cousin, mom, counselor, teacher, student, mentor, advisor, and fellow believer in our Lord. Talk about one-stop shopping.
Sherri counseled with a wise, kind spirit. She never judged, but always quietly gave her opinion, with her reasons. I can still hear her asking me, “Jan, do you think the Lord would be happy with what you’re doing/saying?” She perfectly applied that saying, “What Would Jesus Do?” and made it real to me, so I could better evaluate my life, actions, and thoughts.
It goes without saying that Sherri and I danced together, but how we danced! We performed on stage, downtown at the Daley Center, and in local parades. We danced in classes and out on the town, in bars, restaurants, VFW’s and American Legions, outdoor festivals, pools, wineries, barns, fairs, and on cruise ships. Basically, anywhere I was, Sherri was there too; she was always up for another adventure. She wore through multiple dance shoes. We had a blast!
We traveled! We sure did; Rolf was so accommodating to her. Guess who was always joined me whenever I wanted to do something? Sherri, of course. Locally, we visited downtown Chicago for a boat ride, Lincoln Park Zoo, and the Shedd Aquarium, attended line dance conventions in Rosemont, drove to the Wisconsin State Fair, spent weekends in Lake Geneva, New Buffalo, Galena and sang Christmas carols in a nursing home. We ventured to Kentucky to see the Ark & the Creation Museum! Most incredibly of all, when I drove out to California, Sherri flew to Phoenix, AZ to meet me as I drove back home, and kept me company for the next 3 days & nights on the road.
OH THE TIMES WE HAD!! Not so long ago she said to me, “Jan, I’m an old lady now.” Yeah right! Her energy never ceased to amaze me. We went to so many different places, I’m sure I’ve forgotten some.
COVID & SHERRI
When Covid hit in March 2020, of course everything changed. Dancing went virtual overnight, and Sherri adapted. Countless times she dialed in to a Zoom call, and danced in her tiny kitchen while Rolf watched a movie on the other side of the counter. She struggled, as she had trouble with technology, but she persevered and figured it out. She was one determined lady.
In June, the lockdowns were lifted, and we started line dancing outside. We were in my parking lot first, and I’ll never forget Sherri walking up the driveway. She stopped about 6 feet away from me (of course). We stared at each other – we’d not been together in person for almost 3 months – and she said, “We’re not supposed to get near each other or touch each other. I’ll just die if I can’t hug anyone, especially you. I might get sick, I might die, but I want to live while I can, and that includes hugging.” And so we did, and we never stopped. When fall arrived in 2020, those of us who were still comfortable dancing inside did so, and we all continued to dance together in person a few times a week, as well as virtually.
Life was not different enough to stop traveling. Sherri wanted to continue living, so she did. A small group of us, including Sherri, continued to take a couple of trips. Five of us spent a weekend in Galena in the summer of 2020. We kayaked (did Sherri ever paddle?), shopped, went out to eat, and hung around the town home talking, laughing, and playing cards.
The cross-country driving trip was in January of 2021. We saw more of the U.S. than we ever had before. Sherri helped me move in November of 2020 as well as July of 2021. In April of 2021 Sherri, Betsy, and I flew to Texas for a line dance convention. Sherri, Betsy, & Charisse drove to Delaware to meet me in November of 2021. Never in a million years did we dream it would be our last group dancing trip with Sherri.
SHERRI
November 20th, 2021. Day 2 of 12
Three days after Sherri & I flew back from Delaware, on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, Sherri called. It was the beginning of the end. She answered my offhanded question of “Hey, how are you?” with words I’ll never forget: “Well, I’m ok, but I’m in the hospital. I have Covid.”
I was surprised at Sherri’s sudden illness; Wednesday night when I dropped her off from the airport, she was fine. Thursday morning in class she told someone she wasn’t feeling so well, and Friday morning she ended up in the hospital. It was a day later, on Saturday, that she called, and she felt ok, but was on oxygen and under observation. Her biggest complaint when I spoke with her the Wednesday before Thanksgiving was that she was “bored to death”! Thus my shock at how quickly things turned deadly. Saturday afternoon after Thanksgiving Rolf called, saying she was in ICU and probably not going to make it.
Despite the APB calling everyone to prayer, on November 30th, Sherri’s time had come. I was blessed to be able to spend her last 12 hours with her and Rolf. How honored I was to be included…and how I fought saying goodbye! I couldn’t grasp that we were going to lose her, no matter what I was told. All I ended up hanging onto was that she said she was ready to go. She didn’t want to be alone, and on that final journey, she wasn’t.
LIFE NOW WITHOUT SHERRI
I remember how Sherri loved life, and how she lived it without fear. She always smiled and hugged people. She was REAL. Her stability was a calming influence on everyone she knew, and it came from her solid faith in the Lord. Everybody loves Sherri; how could they not?
Sherri always said we have to do what we feel is best, as long as it doesn’t violate what the Lord says. She would often say to me, “Well, have you learned from this?” I have, indeed, learned a few things from losing her:
I never know when it’s going to be the last time I see someone – so be grateful!
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and due cursory respect for it, as we all have God-given free will.
I’ll live & fight till I die.
Her presence in my life was an answer to a prayer I didn’t know I prayed. I’ll spend the rest of my days appreciating my friendship with her and missing it, remembering her peace & wisdom, and integrating what she shared with me into who I am. I’m still in shock that I can’t call her up and talk with her. I can’t really comprehend that she’s not here anymore. The numbness seems endless.
But I WILL see Sherri again. She’s with our Lord, who says He’s preparing a place for us. Maybe she’s helping Him.
I recently read a passage from the Apostle Paul, when he was nearing the end of his earthly life, and it seemed to be pretty close to what Sherri might have said:
“So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.” (2 Peter 1: 12-15)
She did indeed do her best. She lived Jesus for all of us.
China - in His image 