I first met my God-ordained, best friend, Sally Ann Miller, in 1972. My parents drove me from Argo, IL to Allentown, PA so I could attend United Wesleyan College. I was so scared, so shy, and so sheltered. But I was looking forward to spreading my wings. Sally saw me for who I was. I would barely look at anyone and kept to myself. She determined to make me her friend. Thankfully she made that happen! She was so tenacious and persistent. She did NOT take no for an answer very often. She began inviting me to be a part of her life. She did so with patience and caution realizing my vulnerability and desiring to get behind the walls I had built up to protect myself. Slowly but surely, I was able to let her in a little bit at a time. Since Sally had already been attending UWC, and because she was from that area, she was very popular and well-loved. I don’t think she would agree with me if she heard me say that, but it’s the truth. She was especially adored by the guys (she would NOT appreciate me saying this). But after she met Paul Kenneth Sheets, she had had eyes for no other guy! I have never seen such love!!! There was nothing or no one who was going to deter her from her goal of marrying Paul! He was the love of her life!!!! I remember her taking me to her family home in Danielsville, PA on many occasions. At that time, they were unsure of Sally’s great love for Paul and, at times, made things difficult for her. She once again persevered and stayed true to her heart. There was NO DOUBT in her mind that Paul was the one for her. And she was right! There was NO DOUBT that I was to be her friend. And she was right again!!!
Because I was so far away from home and my family, her great love for me and her desire to help me was my lifeline. On those occasions when she took me to her family home to visit it was like balm to my soul. I still remember her Momma Ruth’s hugs (something I was NOT used to) and feeling enfolded in her love. Singing around the piano while she played was a joy. Singing around her piano with anyone who would join in brings special memories. Sally, Yvonne Saunders Miller, and I sang in a trio for the college, the Faith, Hope and Love trio, and we often practiced at the Miller home. We certainly had the love of music that drew us together. We not only sang in the trio but sang in the UWC choir and went on several choir tours together. I loved singing with Sally, Yvonne, Paul, David, and Bea. Even though they would all become family, they welcomed me into their family and have made me feel like I truly belonged.
She was so concerned for me and my well being that she often invited me on her dates with Paul! For real! I did go on occasion but it was not the greatest thrill of my life. I am sure it wasn’t for Paul either! I would go with reluctance but usually ended up having a good time. We did, on occasion, have Michio Katsumata go with us. I remember eating Chinese food for the first time when we were with Michio. I was afraid to eat Chinese food because I had never eaten any. I was used to having only meat and potatoes in the Midwest.
I loved learning about the Pennsylvania ways and cuisine. Sally had such unique ways of saying certain things and a distinct accent. For the first time I heard “I need to comb or curl them” when speaking about combing and curling her hair. I heard “it’s all” instead of “it’s all gone.” I would always question her when I heard “it’s all” with “it’s all WHAT?” It was fun. I learned what Shoefly pie, perogies, scrapple, birch beer, and whoopie pies were. She would bake whoopie pies and bring them to our dorm room and I would eat most of them, much to her dismay!! They are still one of my favorite things but I seldom get to eat them. She made sure I would have some whenever we were able to visit in person.
Because we were both raised in the Pilgrim Holiness Church, we experienced a lot of firsts together. We went to our first movie and both came away crying. Mostly because it was a horrible movie with lots of killing but with a little bit of guilt thrown in. We braved going to another movie after that. Gone with The Wind. Can you believe we would do such a rebellious thing? Sally was a much braver soul than I when it came to breaking some of the rules of our very strict upbringing. But she brought me along and corrupted me….hahahaha….she would not like me saying that either!
When she included me in her wedding, I felt so special. I had never been invited to be in a wedding of a friend. Come to think of it I didn’t really have any close friends until Sally came into my life. Her wedding day was the hottest day of the year but it was a beautiful day. I knew things would be different for us after she was married but I never feared that we would not continue to be dear friends. There were a few years after college that we were not in constant touch but not many. I remember flying to Maryland for Sally’s baby shower when Stevan was close to arriving. It was my first-time meeting Stacia and seeing their parsonage in Easton. Stacia was not at all thrilled to meet me. I still remember that and laugh! She was not as taken with me as her Mommy was! Sally introduced me to many of the church folks and even set me up with a date. I was not thrilled about the whole thing but went reluctantly. She somehow talked me into doing a lot of things I never wanted to do or would have done without her pushing. Can you relate??
After I was married and had children, we had many special times of visiting each other and vacationing together. Sally and Paul love my children just like I love theirs. They are Aunt Sally and Uncle Paul to my children and I am Aunt Pam to theirs. When Stacia was diagnosed with cancer my heart broke with theirs. We were privileged to pick them up at the airport after Stacia’s Make A Wish trip to Disney World. I will be forever grateful that we were able to do that because Stacia died not long after that trip. I was able to attend her funeral and be, once again, treated as part of their family. I tried with all of my heart to be there for Sally as much as I could even though we lived hundreds of miles apart. Every opportunity I had to share in her grief, over the phone or in person, I took. I wasn’t sure she was going to make it through those first dark years. But God is faithful and Sally never lost sight of the hope she had in Jesus and the hope that she would see Stacia again one day. That hope is now realized. Soon after Stacia’s funeral, Sally, Paul, Stevan and Sher came to Indiana to visit us. It was such a difficult time but being together was such a treasure and a blessing. During that visit Sally, in spite of her deep grief, sensed there was something wrong in my life. She was really, really good at reading people. Several years later my husband and I divorced. Guess who was there to help me pick up the pieces? Sally. Enough said.
God knew that I needed Sally in my life. There were times she held on too tightly and I resented it. I was able to convince her, once-in-a-while, that I was a big girl and could do things on my own. She would loosen her grip a little bit but I am so very grateful that she NEVER LET ME GO!
I miss our almost every Saturday phone conversations and Facebook connections so much already! But this I know:
She no longer has to grieve over the death and missing of Stacia.
She no longer has to miss her Momma.
She no longer has pain and suffering.
She no longer has to worry about Paul, Stevan, Sher, Jessica, Ezra and Ella.
She no longer has to be afraid to go into a public restroom.
She no longer has to thoroughly wash an unpeeled banana with hot & soapy water.
She no longer has to fear being licked by an animal.
So many, many treasured memories of my best friend, Sally Ann Miller Sheets. I will always love you.
Because I was so far away from home and my family, her great love for me and her desire to help me was my lifeline. On those occasions when she took me to her family home to visit it was like balm to my soul. I still remember her Momma Ruth’s hugs (something I was NOT used to) and feeling enfolded in her love. Singing around the piano while she played was a joy. Singing around her piano with anyone who would join in brings special memories. Sally, Yvonne Saunders Miller, and I sang in a trio for the college, the Faith, Hope and Love trio, and we often practiced at the Miller home. We certainly had the love of music that drew us together. We not only sang in the trio but sang in the UWC choir and went on several choir tours together. I loved singing with Sally, Yvonne, Paul, David, and Bea. Even though they would all become family, they welcomed me into their family and have made me feel like I truly belonged.
She was so concerned for me and my well being that she often invited me on her dates with Paul! For real! I did go on occasion but it was not the greatest thrill of my life. I am sure it wasn’t for Paul either! I would go with reluctance but usually ended up having a good time. We did, on occasion, have Michio Katsumata go with us. I remember eating Chinese food for the first time when we were with Michio. I was afraid to eat Chinese food because I had never eaten any. I was used to having only meat and potatoes in the Midwest.
I loved learning about the Pennsylvania ways and cuisine. Sally had such unique ways of saying certain things and a distinct accent. For the first time I heard “I need to comb or curl them” when speaking about combing and curling her hair. I heard “it’s all” instead of “it’s all gone.” I would always question her when I heard “it’s all” with “it’s all WHAT?” It was fun. I learned what Shoefly pie, perogies, scrapple, birch beer, and whoopie pies were. She would bake whoopie pies and bring them to our dorm room and I would eat most of them, much to her dismay!! They are still one of my favorite things but I seldom get to eat them. She made sure I would have some whenever we were able to visit in person.
Because we were both raised in the Pilgrim Holiness Church, we experienced a lot of firsts together. We went to our first movie and both came away crying. Mostly because it was a horrible movie with lots of killing but with a little bit of guilt thrown in. We braved going to another movie after that. Gone with The Wind. Can you believe we would do such a rebellious thing? Sally was a much braver soul than I when it came to breaking some of the rules of our very strict upbringing. But she brought me along and corrupted me….hahahaha….she would not like me saying that either!
When she included me in her wedding, I felt so special. I had never been invited to be in a wedding of a friend. Come to think of it I didn’t really have any close friends until Sally came into my life. Her wedding day was the hottest day of the year but it was a beautiful day. I knew things would be different for us after she was married but I never feared that we would not continue to be dear friends. There were a few years after college that we were not in constant touch but not many. I remember flying to Maryland for Sally’s baby shower when Stevan was close to arriving. It was my first-time meeting Stacia and seeing their parsonage in Easton. Stacia was not at all thrilled to meet me. I still remember that and laugh! She was not as taken with me as her Mommy was! Sally introduced me to many of the church folks and even set me up with a date. I was not thrilled about the whole thing but went reluctantly. She somehow talked me into doing a lot of things I never wanted to do or would have done without her pushing. Can you relate??
After I was married and had children, we had many special times of visiting each other and vacationing together. Sally and Paul love my children just like I love theirs. They are Aunt Sally and Uncle Paul to my children and I am Aunt Pam to theirs. When Stacia was diagnosed with cancer my heart broke with theirs. We were privileged to pick them up at the airport after Stacia’s Make A Wish trip to Disney World. I will be forever grateful that we were able to do that because Stacia died not long after that trip. I was able to attend her funeral and be, once again, treated as part of their family. I tried with all of my heart to be there for Sally as much as I could even though we lived hundreds of miles apart. Every opportunity I had to share in her grief, over the phone or in person, I took. I wasn’t sure she was going to make it through those first dark years. But God is faithful and Sally never lost sight of the hope she had in Jesus and the hope that she would see Stacia again one day. That hope is now realized. Soon after Stacia’s funeral, Sally, Paul, Stevan and Sher came to Indiana to visit us. It was such a difficult time but being together was such a treasure and a blessing. During that visit Sally, in spite of her deep grief, sensed there was something wrong in my life. She was really, really good at reading people. Several years later my husband and I divorced. Guess who was there to help me pick up the pieces? Sally. Enough said.
God knew that I needed Sally in my life. There were times she held on too tightly and I resented it. I was able to convince her, once-in-a-while, that I was a big girl and could do things on my own. She would loosen her grip a little bit but I am so very grateful that she NEVER LET ME GO!
I miss our almost every Saturday phone conversations and Facebook connections so much already! But this I know:
She no longer has to grieve over the death and missing of Stacia.
She no longer has to miss her Momma.
She no longer has pain and suffering.
She no longer has to worry about Paul, Stevan, Sher, Jessica, Ezra and Ella.
She no longer has to be afraid to go into a public restroom.
She no longer has to thoroughly wash an unpeeled banana with hot & soapy water.
She no longer has to fear being licked by an animal.
So many, many treasured memories of my best friend, Sally Ann Miller Sheets. I will always love you.