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

Day #164 - Claire W.

Claire was my coworker at the PR firm I worked at the summer I lived in London. I loved her. She was the perfect British friend. She showed me the way around Brown Lloyd James (the firm), but also made sure we knew what good “authentic” places to go out at night (and often joined us). She loved that we were Americans, and always tried out her “American” accent on us. Her favorite line was, “Oh my gawsh!”

I have no idea where Claire is these days…We kept in touch over a few e-mails, but I wouldn’t know how to find her if I wanted to. I hope the world is treating her well. I hope she got the chance to travel to the U.S. and try out that accent of hers.

Day #163 - Olivia K.

The two Olivia’s on my list come up one after the other…how weird?

Olivia was a classmate of mine at Wilmington Friends School. I will always remember that I sat with her and her friend Kelly on my first day of school there. I wonder if she remembers that? I will always remember her welcoming me on that difficult day.

She was also, in many ways, the glue that held our little class (of 43!) together. To this day, she is the one to organize class get-togethers at Thanksgiving or Christmas. Every high school class needs someone like that, and I’m glad ours is Olivia.

Day #162 - Olivia P.

Olivia was one of my very first friends in Oklahoma. She was my coworker at Jordan Associates, the advertising agency I worked at for a few months when we first moved there. She made me realize I was going to make friends in Oklahoma. And good friends.

I knew I would be her friend immediately when I walked into her cubicle and saw her picture of her golden retriever, Milly. I’ll never forget how excited I was to get Olivia’s Christmas card a few years ago to see that they had added another golden to their family.

Olivia is very much an Oklahoma woman – she always looked beautiful, she was always kind, and she was always there when you needed her. She is very likely someone I may never see again, but I will always consider her a friend.

Day #161 - Stephanie I.

Stephanie is one of Ken’s first cousins. And she just got engaged! Stephanie is fun and kind, and has been so welcoming to me at any family event (Ken’s family can be intimidating…there’s a lot of them!) She is in the middle of this family photo.

Stephanie just moved to Chicago from Cleveland, but prior to that, she had a great job in Cleveland at a modeling agency. It was so cool when we were out there last spring to see her on TV doing model makeovers. :)

Day #160 - Kelli C.

Kelli is a fellow scrapbooker. I had “known” Kelli for a long time online. Then one summer, I was in line at the food court at a trade show and I spotted a woman I thought was Kelli just ahead of me in line. I butted in front of approximately two dozen people and said, “Are you Kelli Crowe?” I think I scared the bejesus out of her.

If I had to think of one word to describe Kelli, it would be spunky. She is fun-loving, but also really thoughtful. I am happy to have her as a real life friend now, not just someone I stalk online.

Day #159 - Malcolm L.

Malcolm is one of the people from my past that when I think of him, I just smile. He was a senior when I came transferred to Wilmington Friends School my sophomore year. I had just quit skating, but at a school like Friends you had to do a sport. I had enjoyed running, so I decided to join the track team.

I was the only girl. Yes.

And I had never run besides gym class. I didn’t know what I was good at (which turned out to be not much), I didn’t know how to jump a hurdle, or do the long jump, or practically tie my shoes.

And Malcolm taught me. I always wished I had been better, but I always thought he was proud of me each time I cleared a hurdle.

Day #158 - Lauren F.

Lauren was one of my first friends. I don’t remember much about her, and I don’t know where she has gone in her life, but I do remember her, and so she was along for the ride. She had really thick hair. Is that random or what that this is the one thing I remember most?

I couldn't find any pictures of Lauren, but I do remember (for a fact, or so I think) that she was at this birthday party (I believe the theme was Strawberry Shortcake).

Day #157 - Shae Shae

Our beloved Shea. One of the sweetest animals you ever met. My family has always been a golden family. It’s in our blood. And Shea was one of the greatest – beloved by everyone, but especially my aunt Barbara, uncle David, and cousin Patrick. And she left us far, far too early.

Shea was a lover. Big surprise, right? She was also a talker. When you walked into their house, she would search out whatever toy, shoe, sock, was within reach and start speaking to you.

I’ll never forget the way I cried the day Shea passed away. She was truly as good as gold.

Day #156 - Joy H

Joy was the president of the panhellenic organization I was on my junior-senior year at Lehigh (she is on the right of this photo). I've talked about this group before and how important they were to me that year - and Joy was a big reason for it. She was athletic and friendly and knew how to get her job done. She was also an integral part of one of my bachelorette parties in NYC. I will always remember her giggle. There were lots of giggles that weekend.

Day #155 - Mark L

A prima ballerina I never was. Mark Levy was my dance instructor for many years. See this picture to the left? Guess who the one ballerina not in the correct position is? Yes, yours truly. The funny thing is that my friend Elisa is behind me and she really did go on to be a prima ballerina. I could only live vicariously through her. I was never one of Mark's favorites. :)