Person Post #1: Cute Katy

I have been thinking about doing more posts periodically about people I love. They are in no particular order and for no particular rhyme or reason, just a desire to articulate what I see and love most in people.

I first met Katy at the first BYU 48th ward Ward Prayer of the semester in the fall of 2005. We were both new to the ward and both a little unsure of our situations and surroundings. I had just come home from my mission and was jumping back into the whole singles ward thing, and Katy was transferring her records from the family ward where she had been attending with her mom and brother. Ward prayer that night was at Thomas' house and we both found ourselves sitting on the organ bench in his living room, making small talk.

Although I have very vivid memories of that night, I don't quite remember how we worked our way up from saying hello and chatting at ward functions to close knit friends. Katy lived down the block and around the corner from where I was living (in the Mama Gee house on the corner of 7th and 9th in Provo). Sometime that semester we started always walking to church together. She would walk her way to my house, and then we would walk the rest together. It quickly became known as "Carly and Katy Quality Time." We were avid walkers (refusing rides from well-meaning ward members cruising by) who would let nothing come between us and our quality time.

Sometime that school year our friendship advanced from walking pals to full-fledged friends. To distinguish her from all the other Katys in my life, she soon was referred to as "cute Katy." The title does not come unwarranted. Katy lights up a room when she enters it. Her personality is fun and friendly and infectious. Her bright smile and dimples make you want to smile back. she is oh so sassy, full of spunk, and stylish in a small-town-girl way. She is as kindred a spirit as they come. Katy-Carly-Quality-Time soon turned into hours of talking and laughing and all the goodness of close friends.

One of our ever favorite topics of conversation was the crazy dating world of Provo, Utah. Although we were often at different ends of the spectrum (her getting more dates than she could handle (and from the craziest people and places) and me not quite getting enough), life as a single girl at BYU was always an adventure and filled with awkward moments.

Cute Katy soon was also affectionately known as my "awkward friend." We would see each other and give the sign in ASL for "awkward" to indicate another awkward story was waiting to be told. Oh the endless awkward moments of college life! I tell you what, though, all that awkwardness is not so bad when you can spin it into a story and laugh about it. We always threatened we would write a book of all our crazy stories.

We would meet in the wilk to study together (let's be honest, not much studying happened! Grr to those long papers and endless reading assignments that distracted and guilt-tripped us as we talked). We would go running together (even on cold winter evenings), carve giant pumpkins on Halloween, stay up way too late talking in her living room or on the sidewalk in front of my house, sit by each other in church, and treat ourselves out to lunch or dinner.

There was a kinship in our friendship that was refreshing. Katy has taught me a lot about not being afraid to be yourself, taking advantage of the moment, enjoying the flowers, laughing at life's ridiculousness, and genuine care for others. She is honest and sincere, kind and compassionate, courageous and wise. Life, as the saying goes, has given her her fair share of lemons, but she is a lemonade connoisseur.

Since I moved out of Provo, we have both gone our separate ways and not kept nearly enough contact. I was so excited, however, that she took the big jump and moved to Indiana by herself to start a PhD program at Pudue. And now I am thrilled her awkward dating life is coming to an end (hooray!) as she is getting married to a very lucky fellow (does he know how lucky?) in less than a week.

Miss Katy, I am so glad there is you. Thank you for being your shining star of a self. Good luck with all the last minute wedding plans.

all my love,

cj