My friend Debbie

I know she goes by Debra, but to me, she is Debbie.
We have been friends for almost 20 years. I met Debbie through her husband Jeff, when Jeff andI were both singing in our synagogoue's choir. Soon after, I had an adult Bat Mitzvah and Debbie offered to take photos for me. Later she would also photograph my kids B'nai Mitzvah ceremony when they were 13. I have beautiful albums that she put together that bring back the joy and pride I felt at both of those events.

Debbie is a gifted photographer and videographer. She has recnelty retired from her professional work but still makes movies for friends and for fun, and always has a packet of photographs on hand to share that she recenlty took. Yesterday when we met at the Arboretum for a lovely, lesurely summer day togehter, Debbie showed me her exquisite photos of loons in a Wisconsin lake, and a baby bird giving its first croak of life. Debbie has also encoruaged me and given me advice as I develop my interest and expertise as an amateur photographer.

Back when I first became friends with Deb and Jeff, we spent a lot of time together at our synagogue and with our familes. Deb's daughter Chris is the same age as our twins, and they went through Hebrew school together. All four of our children sang in the children's choir and particpated in holiday plays, and Debbie was always helping out with these productions. Our familes joined some other synagogue familes to have cookouts and go campling together in the summer. We were part of a warm network of friends that we met often at our synagogue. My children called this group the "Camping Familes". Even after our camping trips ended, we continued to meet for Jewish holidays and other social events. Deb, Jeff and their kids Chris and Matt came to feel like our family.

Over the years we have shared many things: happy events and celebrations as well as losses, illness, grief, and difficult times. We have helped each other out and been there to support each other. We have many, many memories from the past years. Whenever we get together, we share the current events in our lives, never glossing over the difficulties, but being open and honest with each other so we really know what is going on in our lives.

Debbie has experienced many challenges in her life, both physical and emotional. And yet she has a great zest for life and always has a joke to share or a funny story to tell. Her eyes light up amd a smile streches across her face as she waits for me to get the punchline or share in the amusement. I know that as a freind she is always there for me, and has been when I have had difficult times in my life. I treasure our friendship and know that even though she only lives in the Twin Cities half a year, now that she and Jeff have retired to Florida, our bonds will stay strong and we will continue to share good times. I also know that II will continue to learn from my dear friend Debbie.