Ruminations

I think about Carrie a lot, more then most people actually know. Writing on this website has been such a challenge because as soon as i begin to write one one memory, I have an overwhelming flood of them pour through.

My whole adolecence is wrapped up in Carrie and the Shepard family. My favorite memories are the smallest ones. The ones that dont really stand out or make people laugh, but instead make me smile because they were what our friendship was based on. We would climb her backyard tree. Even though Marybeth wasnt too happy with it, we did it anyways. We would spend countless hours on that trampoline out back talking about everything and nothing all at the same time. We would tease Nora, eat raw vegis from the garden and keep sapho away from me. We ruined cookies by using way too much baking powder.

Everyday countless things bring her to mind, and I smile. The most bittersweet moments are holidays. Carrie was the reason that the fourth of July will always be my favorite holiday. It isnt becuase I especially like the floats and fireworks. It is because when I was growing up, the most important people in my life would spend the entire day together. The only important part of Christmas was the annual cookie baking day. Even though my mom isnt exactly Martha Stewart, Marybeth brought everything together so that the four women could produce enough cookies to feed a small country and have some left over for the Nora, Cara and Scott.

I cherish all of these memories. It is funny because Carrie always motivated me to want to do more, to learn more, and she continues to do so to this day.