Cindy worked hard learning to tie her shoes, but she always worked hard at anything she did. Like when she had to go poop, she’d take a basketball into the bathroom with her, sit on the toilet and bounce the ball against the wall in front of her, over and over and over again. The rest of the family waited in the other room for the pounding to stop when we would then hear, “I’m ready – come wipe me.” After that was done, our lives could return to normal.

After her tonsillectomy, she saved them in a baggie and took them to her elementary school for “show and tell.” She lost them on the path on the way home, and when she went back to look for them, she found the baggie all chewed up and the tonsils gone. I suppose a neighborhood dog had a real treat that day!

In middle school, she ran for student body president and won. She was the first girl ever elected president. This was all for a boy she liked whom she was trying to impress, but he didn’t respond. For years she bought him presents which she never gave him, had his pictures all over her room and bought jackets to wear like those he was wearing. I think she became the first female, teen-age stalker and, for all I know, she’s still at it.

In high school, she organized her rally squad, and they all appeared at a neighborhood 7-11 in their tiny, little short skirts. They proceeded to do a cheer for the clerk, twirling around and showing their panties. The clerk was so impressed he sold the under-age girls beer which was the whole idea in the first place.

Recently she had a tumor removed from her brain and the next year a hysterectomy where a 1.2 pound tumor was removed in the process. Each time she asked for the tumors, but both physicians refused and instead suggested counseling which she just blew off. I think she wanted to relive her elementary school experience with the tonsils.

Throughout all of this, Cindy never lost her energy or her crazy sense of humor. She’s still the beautiful, funny girl I love. I attribute some of this to the fact that she watches “Seinfeld” re-runs as do I.