x365: Alisa

Also a German class alum from college, Alisa was polished and smart, and intimidating. But we ended up in a poetry class together and had some fun together, comparing bad poetry on the quad, and I always wished we had continued the friendship. She told me about Dutch baby pancakes, which she made for her Army-man boyfriend, with freshly-squeezed lemon. She was delicately pretty, like a china sherpherdess, and I always thought it was very romantic and retro that she had a boyfriend in the military, who came home for visits and stayed in her small college apartment (where, presumably, they ate lots of Dutch baby pancakes).

x365: Mrs. Herring

I loved Mrs. Herring. She was exactly the kind of teacher a little girl who loved books would want to have. I think I had her for kindergarten, and then maybe again for 2nd grade?? I can't remember. I do remember her scolding me for not raising my hand (and speaking out of turn). And also for always raising my hand (and doing the obnoxious "I know! I know!" thing).

I am not doing very good at the x365 project.

x365: Melissa

My one and only friend made at college. We met in German class. She was so shy, and sweet, and friendly. We would meet for lunch a couple times a week... I feel so bad that we've lost touch, and I'm not sure why (why we lost touch). I think it's somehow my fault but I'm not sure how... anyway. I was in a play with her sister (before I knew Melissa). Her soulmate was in my art classes. We were connected in many different ways... and no one could butcher German quite the way we did! German is a comical language anyway, but when used... creatively... it's laugh-out-loud.

x365: Seamus

You were really obnoxious. I didn't like you at all. But you were at the back of the bus and you picked and picked and picked until my then-famous temper flared. I could not wait to get off the bus and away from you.

x365: Erin

Erin, Erna, Ern... whatever I call her, I still mean the same thing: my bestest friend in da whoooollllee wiiiiiiidddeee wooooooorrrrrrrrld. (sorry, inside joke). My BFF. My homegirl. My chica. My Frieda, my Marie. We've known each other pretty much our entire lives. We were in Kindergarten together (her mom taught the class next door). We were competitors most of our younger school days, always vying for top position in class. In high school, we had a few classes together and slowly it dawned on us: This person is just about the most awesomest person ever! And ever since a near-disasterous Driver's Ed class, we've been each others closest friend. I love Erin soooooo much. Funny, smart, sensitive, clever, talented... she's da bomb. I can't express how much it means to me to know that I will always, always have Erin as my friend. We are committed to this friendship. What a gift -- I fully realize how rare and wonderful this kind of friendship is. Wahoo! Friends rock.

x365: Audri

I wish I could just pour it all out like you could. I liked working with you for that reason. Why is it that I always really love people who just lay it all out on the line -- good, bad, or ugly -- and just shrug and say, "Well, that's how I feel." Let the chips fall as they may. I am going to work on this. Again. Wie immer. Voi etta. Anyway. Audri -- you were a great example. You were the prototype of Tears While Working. I loved it. I hope your life is going well.

x365: Tony D.

The epitome of East Coast old-school newsroom crustiness, he was so much fun to work with. He tried to keep it together but you knew deep down there was this fun-crazy guy just longing to break free and run amok. He loved his family fiercely and eventually gave up his newsroom job for something more corporate, to support them. The newsroom just wasn't the same after he left.

x365: Sara

Sara is one of those natural beauties -- the kind that don't need makeup -- in fact, never wears makeup, and makes us all look drab in comparison. Smart and sardonic and a rebel. We went camping in the desert one time, went rock hunting in the caves. Another time we camped at the hot springs and told everyone our names were Lillith and Eve. That night, there was a rainstorm. The hippies in the camp next to us started a drum circle, and as the forest was pummelled by thunder, lightening and rain, we peeked out our tent flap and listened to the drums and crazy singing. Surreal, but one of those things I'll always remember. The next morning we had instant oatmeal made with hot mineral spring water, straight from the earth.

x365: Cheryl

I didn't ever really like her. I thought she was very full of herself. And she was. She was a trouble-maker, an instigator. I'm very glad I don't work with her anymore.

x365: Nebraska

He was sort of brawny. In a lumberjack way. Except he was from Nebraska. Hence the nickname. He came to visit us. Why? I can't remember. It was a long week.

x365: D'Arcy

Around this time 15 years ago, we were shopping for small gifts for each other and to send home to our families. We each got each other small necklace charms, without knowing it. We went to pikkujoulu parties and trudged through the melting snow. We were ironically cheated out of a white Christmas, an indigity I still grumble over. A white Easter, oh yes, we had one of those. But a brown Christmas? What a gyp. We were a team, the best travel team ever for misadventures and giggle-fests. That's one very large pair of underpants! Tee? Hei? Tee? Hei? Lifestyles Of The Poor And Unknown! Take your damn Valio Maito! Daph, I think... I'm drunk.

We were so awesome.

x365: Shelley

Gorgeous, raven-haired Shelley. She could put her whole fist in her mouth. I'd always heard of this, but never seen it in person. It was impressive. She was crazy. We all loved her.

x365: Estrella

Her name was Estrella, and then it was Jennifer, and then it was Estrella again. She got poisoned at the paper by dipping her bare hands into developer a few too many times. I went to her wedding with Jody (as co-workers, nothing more). It was at the country club -- it sucked.

x365: Jason M.

We had a lot of Jasons in our class. In fact, we had two Jason M's. This Jason is not the Jason that used to draw mazes. It's the other Jason. When we were in elementary school, he was the king of the "Motorcycle Gang." This was a 'gang' of kids that would run around the playground in a line formation, hands out in front of them on the 'handlebars', making motorcycle sounds as they 'rode' around the whole playground. Vrrroooom, vrrrrooooooooooom! I got to be a part of the Motorcycle Gang once or twice. I have to admit, it was fun. Sometimes before I go to sleep at night I'll think about what to felt like to run around the playground, arms outstretched in front, making the Vroom sound, taking the corners a little too sharply.

x365: Erik

I was always so jealous because you could draw better than me. I remember when you broke your leg playing football - I wrote about it in my little 5-year diary. "Erik broke first leg." As if there were to be many more.

x365: Patti

Remember when we watched Quiet Riot singing Come On Feel The Noize and we laughed and laughed and could NOT BELIEVE that a band was named Quiet Riot? We also loved Knight Rider and Rick Springfield. "You know I wish that I had Rick Springfield..." We thought your house was so cool because it had two living rooms. Your family story is tragic, but I loved going over to your house.



this is part of the x365 project

x365: Terri

I met you in 2001 to talk about Pacifica (graduate school). We ended up talking about art, the soul, and the mountains in autumn. I knew you were someone special, mysterious. You wanted me to have an art room of my own. You knew it was essential to my heart, my soul. Even then, you knew me.

I have my art room now, sweetie -- thanks to you. I'm so glad I met you, of all the people in the world. I love you so much.

x365: April (#2)

You had a thing about being in control. It was annoying. I learned how to deal with controlling work-situation people from you. I'm glad I don't work with you anymore because lady, you had a superiority complex to put them all to shame.

x365: Jody

"It's all good." That would be Jody. I met Jody at the G-T. He was our 'token black employee' as he liked to joke. His pants used to fall down because he wore them so low (true story!). He put on a tough face sometimes but I actually really liked him. We could not have been more different, but I think there was a strong case of mutual appreciation (even if we were totally bewildered by each other's point of view often). I used to ask him really bone-headed questions about hip-hop music. He humored me.

x365: April

The time we rode horses at your dad's house and spent the afternoon and evening composing a song for choir was one of my favorite weekends ever. I'm sorry I was sick on the day we were supposed to perform it.