A Tribute to My Four Best Friends.

I've neglected to put this on my blog before because I feel it is not up to my standards and is not a true reflection of how much these people mean to me. I have never had very many friends, largely due to the fact that I was very isolated as a child. I have always been exceedingly shy, very anti-social and lack confidence in social situations. As I became older, some took this shyness for arrogance and it further crippled my self image. I found solace in my faith, books, my unending appetite for knowledge and sometimes self damnation. It is through the people that I profile below that I have become the person I am today. They rescued me from a place in my own mind and helped me to 'Make the Best Better' not only for myself, but for others. They taught me to be a leader, they taught me to be a friend, and they taught me how wonderful it is to reach out and help someone else, even if only by the tiniest most insignificant gesture. To me, they mean the world. So here they are: my four best friends.


First up:

Chelsea Gerberding
Dean of Corruption
Black Hole of Rationality
The Phoenix...

I can remember the instant I first met Chelsea, it was during the Illinois Leadership Convention. My first ILC that I attended, she was on the planning committee. I will never forget pressing the button on the elevator at the Chancellor hotel, waiting patiently as the doors open and seeing Chelsea. Chelsea on a luggage cart wearing a cape. Super Chelsea she was, and Super Chelsea she is. I watched her, not knowing she was from my county, but loving her verve and glib tounge throughout the conference. Later, at County 4-H Show, I had my nose pressed against the glass of the Illini room waiting to be allowed inside for my international foods judging. There she was again! She was serving as a superintendant, and called me inside the large, cold room teeming with projects, and she talked with me briefly. I cannot remember the content of the conversation, but remember being so happy that she remembered me from ILC. Later, as I began attending Federation meetings, I became better acquainted with Chelsea and her role as a leader in the 4-H program and as an extraordinary individual. I remember after meeting her, always searching for her projects at County 4-H show: the honey from her family's hives and the artfully decorated glass Coca-Cola bottles. I felt special finding her projects, proud to know her, and idolizing her as an older and successful leader in a program I already knew and loved. She was the one who encouraged me to come Federation meetings, and eventually to join the State Youth Leadership Team, now my second family. Chelsea is an incredible person. Not only is it her 'fault' that I know 99.9 percent of my other friends, and all the rest of my best friends, she has always encouraged me to be better, and more importantly: happier. It is Chelsea who would coax me out into the open, hound my mother into letting me see movies with her or pal around with the boys. She was the one who came up with the idea that I was in a 'corruption school' of sorts by being with her and the boys, and each one of them was a certain professor of some crazy wild subject.

Chelsea is the one who showed me leadership is not only a wonderful way to give back, and not only am I very gifted with leading, but it is very FUN for me to do so. Chelsea has shown me FUN is not a bad word, and how FUN can make life worth living. Chelsea took me under her wing when so many people walked on by. She's the one who tolerated a quiet, nervous, sometimes seemingly uppity girl nobody knew and turned me into the joyful, playful little trickster fox I am now. She saved me from myself: from becoming one very sorrowful, mournful and depressing person. She kept me from being alone in the dark. Chelsea, you saved my life.


Then there's Josh Frank
Professor of Insanity Indoctrination
Sultry Kangaroo Boy
He-Who-Does-Not-Fall-Over
Tiger One

I think I connect the best mentally with Josh than my other friends. When I first met him I discovered we received the exact same ACT score. He was very quiet and reserved at first, just as I traditionally am around those I do not know. He is an intriguing young man. Josh is very introspective. If you ever happen to patronize the divinity that is his bloggage, take a look around. He has the innate ability to analyze like a true green and find connections to all other aspects of life. Josh is also a restless soul. He is bound and determined to make it around the world on a motorcycle, writing for a living perhaps. At one point he wanted to go live in Argentina for a while, a dream I wholeheartedly support as long as I get to come too! :)

But seriously, Josh is an incredible friend. He has always been one to strike up a conversation via IM when I'm having a bad day, and sit and rationalize everything out with me. He's very hopeful, a sort of cynical optimist if you will. I know, I know.. those two words are contradictory, but if you knew Josh you'd understand. What's also amazing about him is the fact that he is so varied in his talents, I consider him a renaissance man in his own right. After all, can you say you know Kiafaru Jitsu, play guitar, drive a stick shift, read obscure literature and understand it (!), make your own wine/beer, skilled artist and writer as well as a very capable leader and worker. Plus, he inherently CANNOT lose his balance. He is like a giant cat! I try and push him over and he just won't FALL. My friends and I say Josh doesn't fall, he hops at funny angles. He tolerates me most wonderfully. I have an odd fascination with tormenting Josh. You see, every time someone says or does something I find slightly embarrassing, annoying, or good naturedly malicious, I end up hitting him or some such. That's right, Chelsea can steal my phone from me or tease me. But who gets whacked upside the head? Josh, of course. I feel bad for it afterwards most times, but I just can't help it it seems. He's a convenient target. Lately, I have also become enamored of his shoelaces, again, something I haven't the foggiest idea about. I try to steal them constantly, or just plain rough house with him. He is very fun to torment, and Josh always allows me to attempt to strangle, push or sit on him with little more than a bemused smile and usually feeble attempt to defend himself. I think the relationship we have is similar to that of myself and my cousins. Very similar in fact... Also it is important to note that the destruction of the earth will be either my fault or his, we're not sure who's going to get there first...

Josh is always there for me. When I am facing a problem and I need someone intelligent and logical to help me analyze every bit while still managing to offer that comforting shoulder all my friends have. He is the quiet, reserved me in the form of a guy. He's like that very similar twin brother that somehow always knows what I am thinking. Josh always makes me look on the bright side when things look grim, he always gives this quiet strength to me that I never knew was there. Josh makes me laugh, but more importantly, he helps me laugh at myself and not be ashamed of it afterwards. Josh is my colleague, a fellow player in the game of life and my dear friend. Josh, you saved my life.

But the roster isn't finished yet, we've still got two more to go...

Jason Baker
Professor of Driving Way too Fast
My Asphalt Cowboy
Redneck Extraordinaire

Ahh Jason, my dear dear Cowboy. Jason and I first were acquainted at ILC my third year in attendance. I met both him and Brad (see next entry) when Chelsea spotted me in the hallway and called me over. She introduced them as fellow county 4-H members, and from then on the deal was sealed. We hung out as much as possible during ILC. A certain memory of sitting together at the banquet comes to mind, and burning the decorative sparkles on the table in the candles as well as a conversation that included myself being the female at the table with the fewest number of purses.

I cannot say we really hit it off though, until we went on Federation Trip. 4-H Federation Trip is held every year, so that members of the county can go on a 'mini vacation' together just to have fun. The year I went with Jason and Brad the group went to Current River in Missouri to go canoeing. It was a glorious trip that summer. Full of mud, mosquitoes, heat and lots of tipped canoes! I distinctly remember walking back towards the cabins with Jason, talking nonstop about cars, engines and NASCAR. Jason intrigued me, for what he thinks he lacks in book smarts, he more than makes up for with his practical knowledge of engines and scientific principles. He astounded me also with his deep moral convictions as well, for the long walk back to the cabin soon turned into a card game and later a conversation deep into the night on issues such as politics, morality, cars, trucks and careers. I thought it was great to find someone who respected my interests in what is considered a guy's hobby. I love to watch NASCAR and fast cars fascinate me. Plus all the silly little jokes and stories he knew as well as his good taste of 90's country and hard rock resounded with me as well. Now one of our favorite things to do is get on the internet and talk via microphone while I'm doing homework and he's chilling after class. Usually we end up playing songs we like off of youtube for each other, discussing the possibility of putting Lamborghini doors on my Sunfire or just talking about our days. Sometimes when I don't understand what he does at his school (being as he and Brad are both going into automotive fields) he takes the time to explain what nitrous systems are or how a dyno works. Other times we talk about politics or the environment. No matter what, when I'm with Jason I know I'll learn something new I never thought of before.

Jason is also very worrisome however. I don't think I've ever had the privilege of having a more concerned friend. Whenever I feel sick or tired he is the first to insist I go to bed or see a doctor, worried that it could be something worse or that I might be hurting. He's very caring in the way a redneck is, fiercely loyal to those he cares about while pretending it doesn't affect him: classic tough guy stance. I like to compare Jason to a golden retriever in this way. He's smart, protective, can learn anything in no time and appreciates the simple things in life. Jason is always willing to lend an ear to my problems. He's very good for discussing family issues with because his family and mine have similar attitudes. His caring nature and fun loving, 'good ol' boy' wildness have always made me crack a smile. Jason, you saved my life.

Brad Weber
Professor of Dirty Mindedness
Brad-The-Barney-Killer
Teddy Bear
Billy Bob

Brad and I met at ILC as well. We had a grand time there, for that is where he earned his inauspicious nickname of Brad-The-Barney-Killer. You see, the speaker we were listening to and had people listen to a clip of music and then tell their response to it. They played the Barney song and Brad said he felt like shooting something. Thus the legend of the Barney Killer was born. Brad is an interesting individual. He's very much the partier of our group. He loves to hang out with people, drive fast, and stay up late. He's also very cuddly though, an affectionate teddy bear if I've ever seen one. He may seem all rough and tough on the outside, but he's got that creamy warm center just like a fine piece of chocolate. I will never forget riding in his Crown Victoria to Wal-Mart during County 4-H Show Family Fun Night on the hunt for water balloons. I had never gone that fast in a vehicle before! Once we got to Wal-Mart we proceeded to hunt for water balloons and spongy pool toys to use as weapons. We had a grand time, raiding aisles and searching for the perfect 'weapons' of choice. Then we hopped back into the car and sped off towards the fairgrounds. It was Brad who mentioned "Josh" during a conversation in the car, and it was through his suggestion that I later met Josh and gained another great friend. Like Jason, Brad is also going into the automotive field. However, I've learned he has a great array of talents. Brad is an exceptionally good photographer, as I often admired his photos during County 4-H show. He was also a wonderful leader during 4-H Federation, for whenever the group started to argue or things came to a standstill, it was Brad who'd crack a joke to lighten the mood or offer a suggestion.

Brad is also very caring. When things get rough, you just can't help but want to cuddle up to him and pour your heart out. Brad is an excellent listener, but he gives great advice as well. He always teases me and pushes me to put a little bit more footloose and fancy free into my life. Brad is that big brother I never had. Brad, you saved my life.

* * *
Chelsea, Josh, Jason and Brad. You all saved my life in little ways you can't imagine. For talking to me, for laughing with me, for inviting me to hang out with you, for laughing at me when I do something stupid that you call cute, for listening to my trials and tribulations, for encouraging me when I'm up and when I'm down, for tolerating the rapid succession of annoying things I do throughout a daily basis, but most of all, for loving me as only you as my best friends can: Thank You. You saved my life.