Yolanda Vasquez (Gum)

I met my best friend, Katie the first day of kindergarten in September of 1957 during our first recess riding stick horses.  I was lucky enough to visit with Katie a few weeks before she passed away and even though she was sick with cancer, she was still so beautiful.  At first she didn't want to see me because she didn't want me to remember her as being sick.  I told her that with 54 years of memories this would not be what I remembered.  These are a few of the things I will remember of our friendship:

I remember in Kindergarten getting to go to her house to play for the first time, I remember riding our bikes all over town and sometimes even to the Rock Pile.  I remember walking up Curry Street - half way to meet her.  I remember when she got surgery on her knee and helping her learn to walk again.  I remember summer nights when we got to go swimming in her pool and going to the movies in the city park.  I remember all of our slumber parties.  I remember not being able to get away with anything because her mother, Sue always caught us.   I remember all the dances from junior high school when the girls sat on one side and the boys on the other.  I remember making posters, pin-ons, and practicing routines for our campaigns at school.  I remember Katie dragging in her mustang on Dennison.  I remember when Erwin, Katie and the pep squad got busted for drinking on the rooters bus.  I remember when we were in our 30's on a girls night out being asked for our ID's and being flattered.  I remember the special love in her life - Ross.  I remember working with her at Prudential in San Diego. I remember when she was baptized, made her first communion, confirmation and was married in the Catholic Church.  I remember being at her wedding reception and meeting all her friends that truly loved her.  But the most important remembrance I have is the first day of kindergarten when Katie became my best friend forever.

I will truly miss her!