Ann

Posted by Kelly Mogen on October 22, 2001 at 13:57:39:

I have known Ann since we were in grade school, riding the same bus to school. I have several memories of Ann, but I'll share just a few of my favorites.

I was reading one of the othe memorials posted about Ann going to camps and I had to share my camp story. Ann and I went to 4-H beef camp together (yes, Ann went to cattle camp)when we were about 12 or 13 years old. Seeings how neither one of us took or steers to camp (optional), we had to find someone to share with. Somehow we ending up sharing with some cute boys instead of some nice girls. Pretty sure beef camp was more about boys for us that year than cattle.

Ann took me to the state fair that same year I think. As most of you know, Ann has no fear. I, on the other hand, carry a disclaimer for things I will not do. Two of them involve hanging upside down and heights. Ann started off easing me into the ground rides and then slowly wearing me down. For those of you who never noticed, Ann's persistant. If she wants it, she'll get it. Well she wanted me to ride on this ride that went way up in the air and spun you upside down continually. I refused, she persisted, I refused, she promised I'd live, after 30 minutes, she won. However, I screamed the entire time and she literally had to pry my fingers from the bar when it was time to get off. After that she wanted to do the upside down rollercoaster, but this time I put my foot down, or more accurately, my butt. Right in the middle of the midway until she agreed to let me go on the Spider, I told her I was done with upside down and way up in the air. She told me she'd meet me in 2 hours right here and promptly walked away. Then we spent an hour waiting for her dad at the car in the parking lot, but by the time he showed up, we were laughing so hard about the day we could hardly stand.

Ann and I also spent a long weekend together at Lake Metigoshi the year after we graduated from our respective schools. It was one of those weekends that I've never had since and will cherish forever. It was just the two of us for a long weekend with nothing to do but talk and laugh and ride bike and boat and eat. We slept when we felt like, talked about our dreams for the future and our goals and anything else we could think of. We never ran out of things to say and never got in a spat, we just relaxed and enjoyed each others company. That's just how it was with us.

Ann and I still got together every year without fail at Christmas time. We would meet at each others house or at the bar and talk and talk and laugh and laugh. The important thing was, we were both always late, so it never bothered either one of us when we weren't one time. This past Christmas we met at the Palermo bar and she and Eric and I visited about what had been going on (taking time off of work, Peru) and what was up next, namely New York City. We chatted about my work and kids, the normal stuff. I always think Ann and I were each others alter egos, I had the kids, the husband, she had the big city jobs, huge dogs and no fear of the next step. We got a taste of the other world from each other but just enjoyed watching the happiness our lives brought to us. I will so miss those visits, it always made my Christmas more special.

Ann, you were so special to me. You were a true friend, the kind that stands by you no matter what. We were always friends, through our good times and our bad. Thank you for your love, your support, your laughter and your wisdom. But thank you most for your unconditional friendship. I love you