Katie

I have noticed that most of the time, the only time people write or speak of loved ones and how they influence our lives is when they are dead. I want people to know how much Katie means to me and how she has influence my life. I know that she has influenced other lives...if only by her funny laugh (I wish I could describe it, but it is too hard). This is why I am writing this note. Katie is three years older than I and we have always had each other; we are pretty much like sisters, even though she is my aunt. When we were little we loved to play with Barbies or sing to songs in harmony ("The Boy is Mine" by Brandy and Monica...he he he). We used to play in the shower, where we would turn the water super cold and try to rush through it...yeah, we were dorks. Other fun times were picking on her brother, who is a year younger than me...yeah, strange. We would pick on him for liking Barney and whenever he wanted to play Barbies with us; Katie made him be the mailman and he couldn't even be the Ken doll, he had to be a lego man. Now that we have matured, we don't pick on Joey as much...oh, wait, we do...ha ha...but he loves us anyway :). As we got older, Katie would always give me advice. There were times when it drove me crazy (especially when she was right, but I was too stubborn to admit it). The advice she gave was mainly on boys (though, I was never as interested...ha ha), school, and how to have fun (she gave me my first sip of coke and rum). The most important thing that she has shown me is how to be a good person. There was never a time that she has shown anyone disrespect...no matter how much she didn't care for that person. She hardly ever spoke ill of anyone. Her open-mind has also helped shape me. Her independence helps me to see that I can be independent and not need to depend on others. She is kind and helpful to everyone she meets, no matter what troubles she goes through. I want people to know that, so they appreciate her more. Thank you Katie, for making me want to be a good person. I love you!!!