Sad, sad day

This morning I got to work late. I saw the light on my phone showing I had messages was on. Mom left two messages. Apparently a childhood friend of mine, Patrice Bolyard Coffman had passed away last week and the funeral was today. Mom said she could pick me up at 9:15am to go to the funeral. Problem was I didn't get into the office until 9:45am.

If I was a better facebook person I would have caught this fact last week when it happens, but I don't get on facebook more than probably once a week. I was sad that I missed the funeral. Patrice lived right next door to me growing up. My biggest memory of Patrice is that we walked to school sometimes together and one day she had some lip gloss on that smelled so good! I was 8 years old and on the way home from school I remember I was overcome, I went up to her and grabbed her by the shoulders and went to kiss her and she fell backwards on the grass. I got down next to her and kissed her on the lips real quick then got up and ran home really fast.

I went home and told my Mom and she said, "Gordon! Don't ever do that again!" I took that command to heart and didn't kiss any other girl after that until I was 18. The total girls I've kissed in my life totals 3 including my wife, Cathi. Patrice was my first kiss, although not very romantic.

Patrice was born on Feb 27th, 1972 so she had an interesting birthday situation. She was only able to celebrate her birthday on the actual day once every four years. So this made her significantly younger.

She was a good friend when I was a kid and we got along very well, I don't recall ever having an argument with Patrice. Her family moved away when I was around 11 so we kind of lost track of each other. But I remember asking Patrice to one of her High School's proms. We had a fun time.

I don't know the details of Patrice's passing, but it comes as a shock to me today and I'm saddened to hear the news. I'm praying for her family as they go through this difficult time.