10 Comments

1. 

   Kennedy

   I remember one time, when I first met you and we were at a burger place in Huntington Beach. I can’t remember what it was called, but maybe it was Ruby’s or Rudy’s or something like that. The fluorescent lights were very bright and I remember feeling very self conscious, like “I wonder what she thinks of me. Maybe she thinks I’m crazy. Maybe she thinks I’m nice. Maybe she doesn’t think one way or the other, which would be even worse…” Ethan was in the bathroom and we were sitting there together making small talk like people do when they first meet each other. And now when I think about it, I can’t even fathom a time that I didn’t know you the way I know you now, the way I can tell you anything and everything. The way we can laugh together and the way you hug me, the kind of hug that you know I need. I think back on that burger place in Huntington Beach, how we had just met each other, and how I had no idea that our friendship would turn into love and turn into family and turn into forever. And that is my memory that comes foremost to my mind. I love you, sister.

2. 

   Carol

   Have you ever been told you got a god way with words?

3. 

   Ethan

   The first time we went to movie-night at Tyler and Mary Lynn’s, we were sitting together on their great red couch. I don’t have any idea what we watched. After the movie was over, you three talked about the how much you liked it. I kept quiet because I wasn’t paying attention. I couldn’t concentrate.

   I spent the entire night trying to match my breathing to yours.

4. 

   Sarah

   I remember the first time I saw you again after months and months and we ran towards each other in front of the Lloyd Center Marriott and smashed together for a big hug and Neela looked at me like I might have been a homicidal maniac and she cried and even though she had a sad face on, it still made us laugh because we missed each other and it was happy.

5. 

   Tyler

   Remember there was that time back in ‘Nam when we had just finished our three week tour of duty through the rice fields of Tiên Lãng? We were drinking with the hookers at the bar in the Hai Phong harbor and you were throwing knives at the dartboard when suddenly a hassidic rabbi walked in with a duck on a leash and ordered a sack of raw potatoes? And then he ordered a coke for the duck! That was totally awesome. Good times. And then you turned to me and said… oh crap. wait. no. Sorry Carol, that was with someone else.

   But seriously folks… I remember you taking me and Marylynn’s engagement photos in little German village of Old World early in the morning before anyone showed up. We had so much fun running around and jumping on benches and being totally goofy. It was a total blast.

   I’ll always remember movie nights with you too watching some bad reality TV (Average Joe?) and eating those giant frosted sugar cookies with milk. That’s what Carol reminds me of. Frosted sugar cookies with milk.

6. 

   it

   One of our first meets terrified me but not the first first… the first first I was sitting behind the two of you in sunday school and miranda was telling me how you were new in the ward and I should get to know you, I saw your tattoo and thought “oh yeah I TOTALLY need to get to know her but I’m a dork so I bet she’s way to cool to be my friend” and then when class was over we all said hi, I was so happy. Then I was mortified because I forgot your name. HOW can a person forget a name as simple as yours!?!?! sheesh I’m a dough head!
   But the one meeting I was thinking about was on Independence Day and we were lighting off fireworks by our house and Raymond was sleeping though them almost ready to turn 1 and you and Ethan came walking down to hang out and then….. MY SISTER LICKED YOUR FACE!!!
   that was the moment I realized we were never going to be friends and I was far too much of a dork for you to like me….

7. 

   jana Heller

   my first thoughts on you are as a little girl, ann’s little sister. then one of the next memories i have of you is coming to visit for the first time in idaho. for some reason i still thought of you as a little girl and when we came to visit i realized that you were all grown up. if i remember correctly, you were pregnant with elliot. it was nice living somewhat close, not that we saw each other all that often but when we did, it was always fun. we are still not that far away, we should plan something.

8. 

   Nana

   I remember a day when you weren’t feeling well at all. I’m pretty sure you had morning sickness and homesickness and I was also pretty sure what you needed more than anything was a hug from your Mom. I knew a hug from me was not quite going to do the job, so I went and got my favorite hugging stuffed animal, Happy the Hippo, and I gave him to you to have and to keep. Now every time I see you, you give me back the big hug you got from Happy. I love you.

9. 

   Tatiana

   So I’ve been trying to think of a perfect memory, but really I think the best thing was just hanging out in the halls together with our little screaming children! Oh, and I remember you ask me if I was pregnant, you could tell because my stupid jeans were a little high-watered….dumb maternity clothes! AND…when you told me that you guys had picked out the name Owen Lee for your next son. Ok, now I miss you more.

10. 

    Malia

    It was my first day in a new ward; my first time back to a family ward after holding down a single’s ward contingency for over 12 years. There was this couple speaking in sacrament meeting. The man spoke of real doctrine, wore a sweet goatee and mentioned how he met his wife “spinning records.” The woman wore pink streaks in her hair and I was almost positive I saw a tat peeking out from under the oversized watch. They were clearly the “coolest” people in my ward and I secretly wondered if I would be cool enough to be their friend. Luckily, I am and I couldn’t be more happy. I miss you…I’m calling you now!

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