Happy Birhday-- Missing You!

For the last year, I have been jotting down my "Memories of Kristy" as they would occur to me, over several pages in my day planner. I should be able to write a book in the near future . . . At first, I could not think of her without being overwhelmed with grief, but eventually those tears turned into laughter when I would least expect it. We had so many inside jokes that others would probably not have found the least bit funny (perhaps, offensive even), but it was that part of her that made me fall in love with her. That may be a strange way to describe how our friendship developed, but in reality, she pursued a frienship with me in many similar ways that a man would pursue a relationship with a woman - she was bloody persistent! At first, I didn't welcome her "advances" as I thought she was too intrusive, too hyper, too happy, too goody-two shoes (obviously I hadn't gotten to know her when I came to that conclusion), etc. But eventually she wore me down and I discovered that this person who I once thought had nothing in common with me, was actually the only person (other than my family) who ever really "got" me. I'm not really sure what she saw in me that made her want to be my friend, but I am so thankful for the years that she was a part of my life. I hope you can find the humor in this . . .

When I was pregnant with my only child, I was anxious to know what I was in for as far as the whole "childbirth" experience. Every woman that I asked seemed to sugar-coat it and say things like "it's not that bad" or that it would feel like "really bad cramps", etc. Brandon was about two months old by this time, and I knew Kristy wouldn't try to "BS" me . . . She laid it down and told me that I'd better not have anything nearby that could be considered a lethal weapon because I would seriously consider using it on myself during hard labor. She then added that I'd better not be too attached to my breasts because they were going to turn into "pancake boobs" by the time I was done breast feeding. Nice . . .

When Kristy and I were working together, we would take frequent trips to Starbucks for a little "pick me up". Kristy would usually just order a small hot chocolate, unless I offered to buy, in which case her order would suddenly change to a grande hot chocolate with vanilla, and maybe a piece of coffee cake or something to tide her over until lunch. She said that her appetite grew when somebody else was paying . . .

A few years back, by way of channel surfing, I had stumbled across the Reality Genre's newest creation, "Dog the Bounty Hunter". More often than I'd like to admit, I'd find myself staying up way past my bedtime watching it. It was like a train wreck; I couldn't look away! I was talking to Kristy the following week and was about to make my confession to her, but I had only uttered the words "You're not going to believe what stupid show I've gotten myself addicted to . . .", when she finished it for me with "Let me guess? Dog the Bounty Hunter?". It seem she too, was guilty of the same pleasure.

I think of her every time something funny happens because I know that she would laugh with me. For those of you that knew her; do you remember that laugh she had when she would throw her head back with her mouth open and her eyes shut? Did she ever demonstrate the "PTA Mom Dance" for you? I might still cry from time to time when I really miss her, but I think the laughter will far outweigh the tears!

Love,

Your Fellow Earthquake Survivor (Sarah)