I met Terra in 1973. She was my 4th grade teacher. When i met her, i knew that she was special; i had never seen someone as creatively dressed as Terra, each day wearing a unique outfit, with outrageous jewelry. I clearly had a good sense of the term 'special' as my mom, Donna Brinitzer, a teacher at FT. Hunt and my father became good friends with Terra and Richard. As with most 'kid's' as we grow up we move away and follow our own paths, Unbeknownst to me, while I was away my parents had numerous dinners, parties, and outings with Terra and Richard.
When i returned to DC all i heard from my parents was how wonderful Terra was, and that her home was amazing. A work of art in the woods. My mother complained that it was hard to find, however and always noted that you needed to 'see the bank of mailboxes and then turn right!"
Long story short, Terra was the link that tied me to my former husband Carroll, (she was there for me when he died), she was at my brother's wedding, she cooked my mom her birthday dinner each July 14th, she was there when my dad passed, when my mom passed, and when i met and married Matt.
Lately she made dinner for Matt and me as we returned from the beach on Sunday nights throughout the year. Dinners were always amazing.
We sat at the table where i had countless dinners before, both with my parents, with Carroll, and now with Matt.
In the most outrageous event of recent history Terra and i went to her Porsche dealer to buy a car. Not for her, but for me. She sat me down with her sales person and said "you need to get Scott into this car!" And what then unfolded is pure joy. How may people can say that they purchased a car, let alone the Porsche, (you just HAVE to have this car). with their 4th grade teacher?
I can't imagine a world without Terra. I always thought that i had more time with her.