to be short

my october inspiration

sherry summers

Sherry & Jay

Please meet my lovely sorority sister & dear friend, Sherry Summers.  Sherry and I were both in the same sorority at Miami University (she joined the year after I graduated).  Even though we were not at Miami the same years, her sorority ‘big sister’ is also a close friend of mine.  And since there are a contingent of us in Columbus, Ohio, we have remained close and spent many special times together since college.  Hence how I met Sherry.

Every group of friends needs a cruise director, and our Love Boat’s “Julie” is definitely Sherry.  She never misses one of our birthdays with her self-branded cards, hosts an annual holiday kick-off party where the laughs & fun are endless, and graciously takes on the task of planning our sorority sister get togethers.  Sherry has a way of making any topic or conversation down right funny with her dry sense of humor.  She is beautiful and confident in her own skin, takes advantage of life’s every precious minute, and never sways in her loyalty as a friend.  Thank you Sherry, for so many years of special memories.  I cherish your friendship and love you to pieces!

After I chose Sherry for my ‘October Inspirational Friend,’  I asked her to send me a brief bio about herself.  Once I read her response, I realized I could not rewrite Sherry’s words…they are so depictive of who she is and how she emulates my mantra of ‘Aging with Intention.’ 

“I am a first-generation college graduate, originally from a small town in northwest Ohio.  My high school was in the middle of a corn field, and I know how to drive a tractor.  Ironically, that skill helped to land my first job after graduating from Miami University.  Next May will mark my 30-year career as an accountant for JPMorgan Chase.

My loves and passions can be summed up into 4 categories: my family, dogs, music and lambrusco (not always necessarily in that order – life calls for adaptation).
 
Most of my time and energy belongs to my family.  I have an amazing husband, Jay, and 2 fabulous daughters; Kylie and Emma.  Raising kids is not always easy (even if you have really great ones), and continuing to nurture your relationship with your spouse is something that takes a deliberate and constant effort.  I am a firm believer in “you get what you give”.
 
I have 2 English Pointers – Gunner and Ellie.  Both are rescues and both have very different personalities.  I love the breed and volunteer for the national Pointer Rescue Organization as often as I can.   Pointers are an emotional breed, as am I, and I think that is part of why I connect with them so deeply.  But I do love all dogs and will stop to pet them on every sighting – especially the large breeds.
 
Music is my other passion and saving grace.  I like a lot of different genres; my playlists are diverse.  I have been to hundreds of concerts (not exaggerating).  Live music fills my soul.  I feel it in my bones.  I need it as much as air.  It’s the one thing I do continually for myself.
 
Anyone who knows me can name my favorite wine – Riunite Lambrusco.  It’s kind of a funny association with me.  I’m not a fancy girl (see above corn field and tractor reference), and the wine is cheap and has a screw top.  It’s delicious and I enjoy every drop.  Life is good and life is hard, and it’s ok to like what we like.
 
Words I live by:  these quotes are the ones that I come back to, time and time again:
 
🌀 “You get what you give.” (worth the second reference)
🌀 “Everyone has a chapter they don’t read aloud.”
🌀 “This too shall pass.”
🌀 “Love is patient. Love is kind. Y’all gonna make me lose my mind. Up in here. Up in here” (never lose your sense of humor)
 
Gunner & Ellie

I would love to hear about something or
someone who is inspirational in your life.