Never enough time...

27 years was not enough time for me to get to know you

You would think that after 27 years of moving in and out of eachothers' lives, you would know a person pretty well.  Still, the past week has left me feeling as though I missed out on the full benefit of Heather's being.  I will admit, getting to know Heather through Jr and Sr high was not as easy as I think it would have been later.  Adolescence is weird.  Heather was always head-strong, honest, smart as a whip, quick to speak her mind, and....never without a date to a dance.  Naturally, as a fellow teenage girl, these qualities sometimes made Heather seem less approachable.  Looking back, I was just intimidated by and jealous of her (she was the whole package, even then).  Then, a few years after HS several girls moved to the bay area to start their careers.  Heather and I had not been in close contact, but kept up through others. Some how, I was invited to stay with her and Hayley on a couple occasions.  What a blast.  All those qualities about Heather were still there, but we were grown-ups.  She was more approachable to me than ever.  We went on to keep in touch off and on, planning bachelorette parties, attending weddings, showers, reunions, holiday parties.  I always looked forward to seeing Heather.  When I heard she named her son Cooper, I smiled extra big.  I also have a Cooper (age 10). Now, I would have that in common with her forever.   So now, after 27 years, I am asking myself...was Heather right or left handed?  What was her favorite drink?  favorite color? favorite place?  favorite movie?  and on and on.  I should know all these things and I should have asked her myself.  I am making a point to honor Heather by asking friends these questions and being a better listener to the answers.  Heather, I will miss you dearly.    

Liesl Johnson Mestre

MADCAP sister, PLHS classmate, friend