Jodi

 My good childhood friend passed away on Tuesday, September 10th. Addiction is a terrible thing and took her far too soon. While I didn't have much or really any contact with her since high school I thought of her often.  8 years ago in the fall, we were messaging of FB and then we ended up talking on the phone for about 2 hours catching up. It was good to hear her voice. I came across a few photos from HS and sent them to her via FB in 2022, so we had a small amount of contact and then that was it. While she said to stop by in Albertville where she was working at the outlet mall and lived, I never wanted to stop. I had known since age 20 that she was more interested in drinking than just about anything else. Not what I wanted to do or hang out with. I feel bad for saying that, but we had different lives. We had a H.S reunion where she looked so good and healthy finally. She had gained a lot of weight right after H.S from all the drinking, but had surgery about 10 years ago to lose the weight. She looked like she was getting her life on track via photos. Always so pretty, happy to see you and a wonderful happy personality.

 It was such a shock when I noticed her sister's post yesterday afternoon that she had died. I saw her mom's post a few days ago and wasn't sure what was going on. I would have never thought the posts were cryptic message about her in the hospital fighting for her life. I'm guessing from posts I've read from others it was liver failure. She had to kids a boy and girl. I think they are in H.S or one might have graduated. Still young to lose their mom. I'm pretty sure she was divorced, but looked like living maybe with a boyfriend from photos. 

Jodi you weren't supposed to die so young my friend, 56 forever now. 

This is how I'll always remember you. Back in 1986 forever young... 

I met Jodi when I was in 5th grade going into 6th.  She and her brother would be waiting for their mom to pick them up from summer school. We were both their late because I had to either walk or roller skate home, but instead I would go to our family friend house down the road from the elementary school to play with Jennifer their 4/5 year old daughter instead of going home. We had the same teacher in 6th grade and she quickly became friends with me and my other friends. Jodi made lots of good friends over the years. She was just that friendly person that had a big group of friends. We moved down the street from her when I was in 8th grade. Rode the bus together and hung out all the time, mostly at her house. We'd swim all day long in the summer at Schultz lake walking back and forth to each other's houses before we could drive. We worked together at Holiday for a year and then came graduation and we drifted away. 

First Ken/Stephen my first BF died a few years ago at age 52, now Jodi at 56. I'm losing good friends. Another 2nd grade childhood friend died in her 40's. All too young... Never would I have thought they would be one of the firsts in our graduating class to die. We've had 2 others, but that's it. Also another girl down the road that was a grade older and taught me baton died really young. All these people I used to know gone sooo early. We are all supposed to live to 80 or beyond.  I always think after a death, who will be next? I would have never imagined any of it being my good friends.