My Friend Anissa
Anissa and I at BlogHer 09
This is a post that I really don’t want to write. But yet, I have to because Anissa Mayhew is a special person in my life and I can’t NOT do this.
If you don’t know already, Anissa suffered a massive stroke on Tuesday, Nov 17. She is in the hospital, in the intensive care unit, and it seems the whole world is waiting for her to wake up. There have been some signs of progress but I will not fully exhale until she does.
Anissa came into my life about a year and a half ago and she literally appeared out of nowhere. She left me a few blog comments and when I saw that she lived in my city, I was halfway psyched and halfway freaked out because hello? IN MY CITY.
Soon after, she hit me up on Twitter and before I knew it, we were making plans via email to drive to the regional BlogHer conference in New Orleans (since I had missed the BlogHer 08 conference in San Francisco due to a broken foot). That conference ended up getting canceled but it didn’t matter. We became fast friends regardless and one road trip to Orlando later, it was like we’d been friends for years.
Anissa always jokes that she stalked me before befriending me and I always say that I’m glad she did. We’ve had this same exchange more times than I can count and my answer will always be the same.
Why? Because Anissa is one of THOSE people. You know…the kind that make everything fun, even when it sucks; the kind that everyone wants to be around; the kind that has never met a stranger and makes everyone feel welcome.
But also? Because she gets me. She understands all my idiosyncrasies and she makes me feel loved in spite of them.
I know I’m not special. We’re very close friends but Anissa makes EVERYONE feel loved and THAT is why there is such an outpouring of support for her. Because every person she comes in contact with is touched by her bright spirit, generous heart and of course her ability to ALWAYS make you laugh. If you read Aiming Low or follow her on Twitter, you already know about Anissa’s trademark gift of humor…
The world is, quite simply, a darker place without Anissa actively being a part of it. She has three amazing kids—Peyton, her youngest, just one year into remission of childhood cancer—and they need her. Her husband? Needs her. Her friends? Need her. We ALL need her.
In addition to all her other sterling qualities, however, Anissa is, hands down, one of the strongest women I know and thus, I have to believe that she will fight her way back to us. Again.
It may take a year. It may take two years. But she WILL BE BACK. And I cannot wait because I miss her SO. DAMN. MUCH.
I know not everyone is into praying. I know some feel like they have to be religious to pray. I’m here to tell you that you don’t. All thoughts are a form of energy and when a large number of people focus that energy on one thing, it DOES make a difference.
So please—pray for Anissa, send positive thoughts to her, dance naked under a full moon for her; light a candle in her name; do whatever positive thing it is that YOU do…for our friend Anissa.
For the most current updates on Anissa’s condition, please check Hope4Peyton. For the PO Box address and other info on how you can help the Mayhews, please visit her Caring Bridge site.
Perfectly said.
Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing]’s last blog post…She’d do it all.
Your last two paragraphs? SO LOVE.
Right on.
Lotus Carroll (Sarcastic Mom)’s last blog post…The rhythm of our lives.
Yes! Anissa is a force of nature, and I can’t wait until she is showering us with her fabulousness again.
Steph’s last blog post…Easy peasy Mac n Cheesy - quick and easy mac n cheese
Thank you for saying it so well. She’s just a gem of a person, and everyone who knows her is diminished when her fire is banked.
Velma’s last blog post…NaBloItAgain…
Exactly.
Thank you for writing this.
Also? I think the idea of a bunch of people dancing naked under a full moon JUST FOR HER would thrill her.
Love you, lady. I’m lucky YOU are my friend. So in Anissa.
xoxo
AMomTwoBoys’s last blog post…Anissa The Great
Yeah, she totally WOULD love that! Maybe someone will do it and video it for her ;)
IzzyMom’s last blog post…My Friend Anissa
I miss her so much.
Maria’s last blog post…happy birthday, Nathan
Nodded the whole way through. I’m so glad you wrote this.
katie’s last blog post…Anissa
[...] My most recent post about Anissa can be found here. [...]
So very true. I’m sending all my energy to Hotlanta to get our girl back where she belongs.
XOXO
VDog’s last blog post…Greys Recap – Holidaze
I’m very sorry to hear this about your friend. I’m sending positive thoughts to her and her family that she kicks ass and comes back to full strength.
Desert Songbird’s last blog post…Never Forget…
Crying but smiling as I read this because it’s so spot on. And I have been praying my little non-religious butt off. I’ll never forget you and Anissa (because, you know, you’re pretty cool too) and how good both of you were to me at my first blog conference.
Lucie @ UO’s last blog post…Anissa
perfectly said- exactly.
tena’s last blog post…Ulcer- party of 2
What you write is so perfectly accurate about Anissa. When I saw her in Boston, I remember thinking that she has the rare ability to make people feel so welcomed and warm and fuzzy from her smile and her caring. I know that there are others that need her so much more than I do, but, man, I want her back and I want her back soon.
It won’t be pretty, but I’ll do a naked moon dance for her for sure.
Fairly Odd Mother’s last blog post…Shook
Dang, I feel like I missed meeting such an amazing woman. I’ve read so much about her and know that she’s someone I’d love to meet someday. I WILL get to say hello. I just believe she is going to fight and fully recover. You all (her friends) are truly amazing. I have her in my thoughts and prayers.
Bri
GrammieMommy’s last blog post…Watch Out, World!
Thank you for this. And yes, you will get to meet her. I’m sure of it.
IzzyMom’s last blog post…My Friend Anissa
Yes, yes, and yes. And you and all of the Aiming Low ladies have been phenomenal in rallying for Anissa and helping all of us rally for her. I’m sending her good universe mojo every day and can’t wait to snort and snark with her when she wakes up. xoxo Christine
Boston Mamas’s last blog post…Simplifying the Holidays: The Little Black Dress, Five Ways
FYI, Anissa LOVED meeting you (and so did I). Thanks for all your good mojo. She needs every bit of it xoxo
IzzyMom’s last blog post…My Friend Anissa
i just love you and i know how hard this was for you to write. thinking of you
First healing for Anissa today… Thanksgiving day at 6pm pst and 9pm est. everyone focus on a picture of Anissa Mayhew… either her profile pic from her blog,facebook or twitter and send her healing energy, prayers, or love. get the word out! http://www.hope4peyton.org
Anissa is THAT person that you feel you’ve known forever.
I miss her So. Damn. Much. too.
Secret Agent Mama/Mishelle’s last blog post…This Morning
She’s a force to be reckoned with. I’m not personal friends with Anissa, I only know her from her writing. But her voice is clear. And so is her amazing quirky humor that always makes me laugh. I think of her and her family everyday. Her strength has moved an entire virtual community. It’s quite remarkable.
Kami’s last blog post…The Storm Before the Calm
If I had to do Chicago all over again I wouldn’t be a slobbering idiot. Instead, I’d have spent more time with you both. Even though I absolutely LOVED hanging with you, I didn’t spend nearly enough time with her. You wrote about her well.
Mocha’s last blog post…You Do This WITH Me
I really enjoyed your website! Your blog is wonderful reading. Have you heard of Danny the Dragon? One of my favorites, and worth a visit as it is the nominee for Best Children’s Picture Book of 2009! http://DannyTheDragon.com
Did you even read this post?