365 Days to 30/365 People Who Were Along for the Ride

Day #71 - Jen G

Jen was one of my first friends when I transfered to Wilmington Friends School (not to be confused with Jenny). She is in the middle of this picture with our friends Sarah and Casey.

From the very beginning, she was my partner in crime, cruising the Pike, looking for Jeeps (Jeeps = cute boys), doing Sallies drive byes, and giggling about boys. We were two of the most (innocent) boy crazy girls I knew.

Most of the fond memories I have of high school involve Jen. I remember getting ready for Sallies dances at her house, going to the Pit for lettuce salad afterward, and spending the night at her parent's house. I remember football games and Krispy Kreme bathrooms and point systems and just good, clean fun. We weren't trouble, we just liked to think we were. :)

Many summer weekends down at the beach were spent with Jen. The second photo on the entry about Patrick is Jen and I having a little fun with him.

Jen's family is British, and after college she returned to England. I miss her and can't tell you how much it meant to sit at the Pit after our 10-year reunion last fall like no time had passed at all. She is one of those friends that no matter how much time has passed, it's exactly the same.

Day #70 - Kelly P

Kelly P (in the very left of this photo) loves cupcakes more than I do. I wasn't sure that was possible.

Kelly became a friend through scrapbooking, and we just found out last week that she has been added as the newest addition to the Creating Garden. Couldn't be happier to have her. She is a sweet girl and so fun to be around. She is young, sometimes I forget that she is younger than me and she never makes me feel o-l-d like I am.

Her scrapbooking style is fun, funky, and classic all at the same time. Something that will never go out of style, kind of like KP herself. :)

Day #69 - Rachel M

Rachel was my sorority sister at Lehigh, a year older than me. And is, perhaps, the funniest person that I know. Living across and down the hall from her was definitely one of the highlights of my sophomore year. Even trying now to think of a way to describe how Rachel would make me laugh I am shaking my head.

I will never forget our rush skits with Rachel performing. I'm pretty sure half our pledges came to Pi Phi because of her skit skills, which included roles as one of the Spartan Cheerleaders from SNL and Hanz and Franz ("I am here to pump, you up"). Oh lord.

Our sophomore year, Pi Phi had a formal and Rachel wasn't dating anyone, so I decided to set her up with my friend Ben from high school, who had come to Lehigh the year after me. And a few years later...They got married! The photo is their wedding day (Rachel's the one in white).

The summer after her senior year, waiting for law school to start, Rachel also nannied for my cousin Donna's family. This was an incredibly rough summer for my family as my cousin Lisa (Donna's sister) passed away very suddenly. Rachel was there to support us through it all, and I'm so glad for that. I know Donna will never forget her.

Rachel is now practicing law in Cincinnati and I miss her more than I can say. I wonder if she still remembers the skits?

Day #68 - Rhonna F

I think Rhonna might be the most enthusiastic person I know. And I LOVE IT! (Those caps were all for you, Rhonna!)

Rhonna is a fellow Garden Girl over at 2peas (that's where I borrowed her photo from), and she is a digital scrapbooking genius. She makes scrapbooking pages not out of paper and glue, but get this, she does it on the computer. Not only does she make them that way, but she makes the stuff that you can use to make these pages. I KNOW! It blew my mind too. Still does. In fact, Rhonna is the designer of these wonderful frames I've been using around each picture on this blog. Looks like something out of an old scrapbook, right?

I've only met Rhonna in person once, but she was everything that I expected: a tiny firecracker. She comes up to about my chest. She is the kind of person you can't help but smile when you are around her. And she's clearly a great mother. What an amazing lady!

Day #67 - General Schwarzkopf

Do you remember where you were when the Persian Gulf War started? I do. It was 1990, I was eleven years old and on the phone with my friend Annelise. Weird what I have chosen to remember, because the only thing I really remember about that war was General Schwarzkopf.

I remember watching about him on television and reading stories about him. I'm not sure I understood the war, but I liked Norman Schwarzkopf.

Imagine my surprise when I attended a West Point Ball in 1999 and there he was. My war hero. I remember trembling as I went to shake his hand. And then it was over.

But I got to meet Norman. :)

Day #66 - Fred C

Fred is our financial adviser. And our friend.

He is going to make me a millionaire by 30. Fred, you have about 299 days, how is it going?

Fred offers frank financial advise, and lets us ask questions without making us ever feel stupid. I trust him (and his brother) and know that they will do the best for us. I also love how supportive Fred is of our family - this photo is him (on the left) at one of my dad's art exhibits.

Fred's main line to us has been "it's all about standard of living" in regards to saving money. We joke about getting bracelets with "WWFD" imprinted on them.

Day #65 - Crickett H

Crickett is my newest co-worker at St. Paul's. And yes, that is her name, it's on her birth certificate and everything (that's what I tell everyone when I introduce them to Crickett). She is on the far left of this picture. We took three pictures at this event and she's making a funny face in every single one. Gosh.

She was an employee at our "sister school" before coming to St. Paul's, and I knew her through that. And I was so excited when I heard she was going to join our quirky little office. She is four years younger than me (but still refers to herself as "my age," which I love), but her insight and maturity are way beyond 25. She is a joy to work with and I'm happy to call her "friend." Oh if you could be a fly on the wall for some of the conversations between her, Erin, and I. :)

I know that long after our days at St. Paul's are over (which isn't anytime soon!), Crickett and I will remain friends. And I'll still be telling people that that's her real name.

Day #64 - Carolyn

Oh, Carolyn. Where to start?

I met Carolyn four, five years ago? But I'm pretty sure we've been friends forever. Or at least it seems that way. She started a job at the company where Mercer was working and I remember Mercer e-mailing me about having to meet this girl in her office, that I would love her. And she was a Pi Phi! Instant bonding ensued.

The first obvious thing that Mercer, Carolyn, and I have in common (besides the fact that we are all 5'8" or taller), is that we all have great relationships with our moms. I think this means something about a person, and also about the way they were raised.

I know that Carolyn has not always had it easy. I know she had to endure more than she should have, but Carolyn is beautiful, strong, and smart. And she knows when to ask for help and advice. She decided what she wanted to do with her life and she is down in North Carolina pursuing that dream. Although we miss her desperately, daily e-mails make her seem not so far away at all. She is always considering other people before herself and is just kind.

So I guess I need to thank Mercer for bringing Carolyn into my life because she makes my life better. I am lucky to be her friend.

Day #63 - Jennifer Pebbles

Jennifer Pebbles is one of the most extraordinary scrapbookers and crafters I know - and my friend!

I first noticed Jen Peb (as I call her) a few years ago on 2peas. Our scrapbooking styles are pretty different, but I was continually drawn to her pages. I was delighted when she was asked to be a Garden Girl, and I became her "buddy" - showing her the ropes. She didn't really need it though, she joined the Garden and has been doing an awesome job ever since.

I love Jen because she is fun, emotional, and loving. An awesome combination. (Oh, and a dog person. Remember dog people = good people). Anytime I spend with her in real life now is filled with lots and lots of laughter. She is a joy to be around and I just wish she didn't live an entire country away.

This photo is from Seattle last fall, Jen and I doing a self-portrait. I miss you, Buddy!

Day #62 - Admiral Larson

Admiral Larson is the chairman of the board at the Naval Academy Foundation, where I worked for almost three years.

I met Admiral Larson on one of my first few days of work. Our offices were in the basement of what used to be the hospital on the campus of the Academy - the morgue, more specifically. And Admiral Larson's office was right next to mine. I remember him shaking my hand and introducing himself as "Chuck."

Well, you see, this is funny because "Chuck" was superintendent of the Naval Academy (the guy in charge) when Ken was a midshipman. He also had served as Commander in Chief of the United States Pacific Command (a little thing called CINCPAC). We decorated our offices around the same time. He hung pictures of him and Ronald Reagan while I hung an autographed picture of "Frank" from Trading Spaces.

Admiral Larson was a Naval Academy classmate and friend of John McCain's. I remember when they were filming Faith of my Fathers and he got such a kick out of meeting the "kid" that was playing him in the movie.

I got a kick out of Admiral Larson. This man has accomplished so much, and continues to do so, yet never a visit to the office went by without him stopping in to ask how I was doing and, more importantly, how Ken was doing. Mind you, Ken did anything he could to NOT stand out while at the Academy, so the fact that his former superintendent was asking about him on a fairly regular occasion was somewhat amusing.

I haven't seen Admiral Larson since I left USNA two and a half years ago, but I trust that he is doing great things. I wouldn't expect anything less.