Goodbye, Old Friend!

My childhood friend, Jessica Schierenberg, passed away over the weekend. Although I have not spoken to her in ages, this time brings great sadness because her life was tragically taken too young. Since I heard the news, I have been thinking a lot about the Jess I knew,  and it seems like only yesterday we were staying up all night, giggling, reading Babysitters club books, becoming teenagers and getting in to trouble. Through the tears and sadness, I smile because I can remember the moments we shared, even if they were small. Jess was my first best friend. We grew from innocent little girls, to grown beautiful women together. I will always remember the first times she came to my house. She was always so happy and energetic. It would drive my parents crazy because she never wanted to go home, and would hide in our house when she knew it was time to leave. If only I could bring her back, she could hide forever. I remember our times in Girl Scouts, trips to the mall, school dances, our first boyfriends, our first kisses, our dreams of becoming a famous singing duo, swimming, dancing, cooking, NKOTB, laughing till we cried, and the smiles and tears we shared throughout the years. We shared a love of singing, and I still hear the song, "All I Wanna Do", by Sheryl Crow, and smile as I remember Jessica and I walking down the street, singing at the top of our lungs, preparing for what we hoped someday would be our big break. 

I know that our friendship never reached the dreams we had back then, but I can't help but feel hopeful that those memories would bring a smile to her face, as they do mine. I am lucky to have shared those years with Jess, and I will miss her.