Tuesday, April 7, 2020
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I remember when my family moved into our house back in the mid 90s. I remember my mom standing at the backyard fence, introducing herself to our new neighbor, Erik’s mother. This was the beginning of it all. Erik and I became great childhood friends.
After school I would dial the landline phone to ask “can Erik come out to play?” On Sunday mornings I would check out the kitchen window to see if the Nordseth’s family car was back from church - I’d run out back to knock on their door to ask if “Erik could come out to play.”
I remember games of foursquare with our sisters and the other neighborhood kids. I remember our games of basketball, whiffle ball, and capture the flag. I remember hours of bouncing and wrestling our friends on the trampoline. I remember being jealous of your giant bins of Legos.
I remember sitting on my back porch arguing about who was better - Jesus Christ or Buddha... we were 6 or 7 years old.
I remember you dressed up as a nerd and I dressed up as a farmer girl for halloween. I remember that I couldn’t wait to show you the new skateboard I got for Christmas. I remember you let me ride your new mountain bike down the driveway - I squeezed the front brake a little too hard and flew over the handlebars.
I remember digging holes around your yard, covering them with leaves, and leading our sisters on “Treasure hunts” only to have them trip in our booby traps. I remember burying time capsules in your yard. I’m pretty sure we dug them up a few years later.
I remember us chatting over the fence as we weed whacked our yards.
I remember playing Tony Hawk Proskater with you. I remember playing Halo online late into the night with you. I remember when you got the Napoleon Dynamite dvd. We probably watched it five times together that week. I remember fishing and wandering around the creek with you.
I remember the day your family moved away. I grew a little bit older that day, no longer a child, barely a teenager.
We stayed in touch and hungout when we could. I remember discovering and sharing punk bands with you. I remember going to Warped Tour and moshing with you. I remember when we started talking about girls and politics.
And then I left for college. We talked less, but still stayed in touch.
After I moved to DC, I remember talking to you more regularly on the phone. I remember sharing our problems and trying to find solutions.
I remember when I drove down to JMU to pick you up to move you in with me in DC. I remember driving you to the bike shop to pick out that red bike frame. I remember showing you how to put together a bike. I remember catching you up on my life and introducing you to all my new friends. I remember having drinks and a laugh as men.
I remember getting into a car with you and road tripping all over the MidWest.
I remember introducing you to photography. I remember when you’d come home from a long day of photographing the streets of DC. I remember seeing you happy.
I wouldn’t remember any of these things if it weren’t for you, Erik. You were a huge a huge part of my life. I am so sorry I wasn’t there for you at the end. I hope that you are happy wherever you are now. I miss you, love you, and will always be thinking of you. Thank you for being a great friend.
