McNair

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Lisa McNair. Its hard for me to put into words what Lisa's untimely death did to my psyche. We all have that one death in our lives that makes us realize our mortality. Lisa was mine. Lisa went to USC with us, she was in the majority of my marketing/business classes. McNair, as we affectionately called her, was a fun loving Jersey girl that knew how to party but also had a business sense that kicked ass. She was hilarious, loved her family and USC. She was a Gamecock through and through. She also loved her some Hootie and the Blowfish. Many of the early 90s we spent going to Savannah for St. Patties day, partying in the ATL, going to Music Midtown, concerts and Bars Around town. Lisa was a part of our group when we first all got out of college and came to Atlanta. She met Bill at American Pie and they becaume a couple - we were all with her that night in the mid 90s. When we were 27, Lisa was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. We were all in disbelief. Lisa fought hard for 7 years to beat it. Through Stem Cell Replacement, the inevitable losing her hair, radiation, years of courses of chemo. She was such an inspiration - more than any person I've known thus far who had cancer. I'm sure she had bad days, but I have to tell you, she never let me see it. Through the 7 or so years that she fought the disease, we all got to know her entire family - they all became close to us through the years. I have never seen Lisa as happy and radiant as she was on her wedding day at Chateau Elan when she married Bill. She was beautiful, and Bill was so happy to be marrying her. So many good times not only in college, but mostly afterwords. Every time I go to Pancho's Mexican restaurant off 85, I think of Lisa. And most of all - anytime I see a butterfly - I just know it is Lisa. I even say 'Hi Lisa' every time one flutters by me. We all had a special place in our hearts for McNair. Not a day goes by that a memory of Lisa doesn't cross my mind. I know she is up there looking down sipping her margarita laughing at all the crazy things we are all still up to. Someday we will all meet again. Rest in Peace Lisa, we miss you!

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