During the year that I studied abroad, we would write the longest letters back and forth describing all the silly small details of what was happening in our lives and making each other laugh even though we were half a world apart - you would write to me using your code name 'Boris' and I would write to you as 'Natasha'. Sometimes we'd even send pictures along like this one - that is until we got smart enough to figure out how email worked. During those college years, we were each other's rocks and I am so grateful for the joy that you brought to my life.

Oh man Jos where can I even start with our stories?  From goofing off in the freshman dorms to goofing off during our shows & rehearsals to goofing off during our shifts (there was a span of 4 or 5 years when we forced employers to hire us as a package deal), there are just too many stories to count.  One thing always remained constant though - if we were together then we were having a good time.  No one could 'break the ice' in an awkward situation like Josie could and no one could make me laugh so hard.  If I try to put our friendship into words, I guess kindred spirits might be one way to describe it

Josie was such a good friend to my daughter, Gina, and she filled our home with joy and laughter whenever she came to visit! These memories of Josie, with her contagious laugh and beautiful smile, and the two of them together are among my most treasured memories. I feel blessed to have known her.

I met Josie at Tulsa Summer Arts camp in the music department. She was the class superstar and amazing at performance. She nabbed a solo and I will never forget the song she sang, as she practiced it over and over and over again until it was perfect (and completely stuck in my head for all time) - “Black is the Color of My True Love’s Hair.” She mulled over the timing, the notes, her movements while she sang - all of it - and then gave a stellar performance. All around age 14. She glowed on stage with her long red hair and beautiful, big voice. 

She glowed in life as well. She made everyone feel special, seen and welcome. And she loved to make people laugh. I will always remember laughing with Josie nonstop. It was almost disarming to be around this beautiful girl who could be so hilarious and comfortable with herself to be able to crack jokes and act out funny situations wherever we were. Everything was fun because of the way she looked at life - she found the good and the ridiculous and called it out. It was great to grow up looking at life with her. She would also start dancing in public to make me laugh - huge hip-swinging ridiculous dancing. She loved singing in her car - truly terrible songs, again, to make me laugh. But she also cared when I was hurting, and that was a gift too - from hilarious to comforting all in one person. And so loyal. 

In high school, she would pick me up for school in her little orange car, and often had a latte from QuickTrip waiting for me. She was incredibly thoughtful too. 

One of my favorite memories - I think the hardest we ever laughed - was when we got huge, colorful snow cones after school in her orange car. And then immediately she got into a fender bender, and snow cones went all over us and the inside of the car. Completely covered in shaved ice and sticky, red and blue syrup. There wasn’t a spot on us that wasn't covered in snow cones . We cried laughing as we mopped up the mess and ourselves, and tried to be mature and deal with whoever she had hit. The little orange car was never the same. 

Josie leaving the world is a huge loss and my heart is broken. It sounds trite to say “there was no one like her” but in Josie’s case, there literally and truly wasn’t it. She was a gift to all of us while she was here. When I think of her and all the memories, I am devastated over the loss, but smile thinking of how much we laughed and enjoyed our time together. I am incredibly grateful she glowed my way and blessed me with her friendship.

I was going through my emails to find some of our notes and I came across this one...I would have really liked to have had a lemon bar with you again 

Mom and Dad had to go home yesterday.  As sorrowful as it was, they drove down their road and saw your rainbow for them.  Dad says it's you reaching to the heavens.  Good job Josie - Love you! 

Josie, I vividly remember growing up in your presence and wishing I had a big sister like you; so full of passion and personality. Your relationship with Bri was truly a sacred sisterhood. You two could fight over the funniest things and STILL be each other’s fiercest protectors. Your loyalty to family was always evident. 
Some of my favorite memories of us are cleaning the house together (likely after a party. LOL) and taking genuine pleasure in all cleaning and singing at the top of our lungs together. We would belt out songs while using a broomstick or dust wand as our mic. And, of course, the solo was always reserved for you because you had THE best voice. I couldn’t believe the notes you could sing that seemed to just come effortlessly out of your gorgeous smile. That Cheshire Cat ultra smile is imprinted on my mind and I can hear you sing and laugh whenever I close my eyes.
Wishing you all the peace in the world. Your presence can never be replaced and has left a massive hole in our hearts. I promise to love and support your sister and brothers like my own family. Xox

Josie, you found your own path and met the world with a courage I may never know. I'm glad the sun was on your face when you found Ellysium. 

I'd never heard of this place before - then I came here to find where you were - when I drove the 12 miles 4x4 road to get here, I realized why it was hidden from the rest of the world.  I wish I could have seen this spot with you 

I remember how much you LOVED these pants! You took little scissors and cut tiny holes in the legs because you thought it made them even cooler and at the time, I totally agreed! I think we're at Granny's Tulsa house in this picture 

On my 30th birthday, you wrote me this poem - I am so glad I kept it, I think you'd be pretty impressed by it

To my Byskies, whom I love so dear - here is a poem - oh so queer!! Though I may not have always shown it...My favorite person on this Earth! So please that whatever follows - should never end in wallows b/c I promised you - I'd always be here...& I will not lie to you dear - I know I get crazy, I know I get scared, but having you on my side - eehh - it's never so bad!! xoxoxoxo!!  

This is from when you came to visit us in SF - you were working for Finish Line at the time.  We went to lunch and we found this funny mural and thought it just really captured the day right :-) 

Do you remember driving around in your red honda listing to this song on constant repeat? 

This is from one of our trips to Puerto Penasco with Granny.  Specifically the time we thought it would be so cool to get those hair wraps put in on the beach.  As you can see, yours was very long! I think we both kept them in place for like weeks afterwards - I'm not sure they were that cool though Jos :-) 

I think this was before one of our Christmas Eve parties - You actually doing your hair and me pulling it back apparently as tight as possible.  I remember you always tried to convince me to actually do my hair.  This is one of the pictures that used to be in Granny's cube of pics of us.   

This is when we went to Sweetwater, CO, and had that little cabin in the woods.  I think you look really happy here - you did always love Sam! I think right after this I talked you into braiding my hair in some crazy styles :-)

This was from when we were submitting pictures of you to Seventeen magazine - remember the teen modeling sweepstakes? We were so excited to submit your entries.  Maybe we have more of the originals somewhere at mom and dad's - I'll try to find them