Jessica's Story.

 

Jessica Kunkel

May 22  · 

I met Tammy on the church bus as an invite from Bible baptist church. I want to say I was either in second or third grade then. Tammy caught my eye wearing what I can remember to be a red velvet looking dress with white lace or outline on it. She was a beautiful little girl. She wore a huge smile on her face. I can still remember this day so clear. She was giggling as she walked back to my seat and asked if I wanted to sit with her. I followed her to the front of the bus, catching glimpse of how much longer her hair was than mine. And those curls were adorable. She introduced me to the bus driver. His name was Jim. He was awesome too. He cared about us kids and would ask us how we were doing. He would invite us over for campfires and spooky stories. The whole atmosphere was inviting. Once I learned that she just lived right down the street from me, we became inseparable. We made sure to make the church bus every Sunday so we could catch up and hang out. Jim and the bus helper taught us many church songs. As we got older we spent church camps together. Those were the best! Lots of swimming and singing on stage to our favorite church songs for karoke night. Spring break and summers either I'd be invited over to her house or her Aunt Jeanies. Or she would stay for as long as I could keep her over at mine. She was there for me during my parents divorce. I didnt take it easy. She took my mind off of things. She got me out of the house. We rode our bikes everywhere, probably the one reason we were so fit back then lol. She always made sure to bring along her cd case to my house so we could swim, sit back and listen, singing together to our favorites from The Dicksy Chicks, Shania Twain, and Britiney Spears. We loved our music. She was a great friend. The one time we had our big fight it was over boys! I didnt approve of who she was was dating, which is her now husband. But none the less she was in love so I let it go. I heard every story there was to tell about that boy. She was a story teller. She was crazy about him. She was a happy girl. One thing I can say is she loved him and always have just as crazy as her day 1 spent with him. And then she would warn me about the bad guys. She was there for me after my first breakup. Then the day I met my now husband, she scorned me for being stupid enough to walk up to a truck of guys handing me a phone number. She hollered at me and we argued all the way home. She wasnt wrong. My dad would have grounded me from leaving the house ever again and more, if he knew. Tammy was a good girl. She kept me out of trouble. Dad was awesome for letting me spend so much time with Tammy. Her family invited me along to Coney Island with them. Her mom picked me up all the time for Wensday nights Master Club at church, or the Mt.Orab library for The Writers Club. We had pretend concerts on her back porch singing our favorites, making up dance moves. She would plan out plays for Halloween and her family would come out and watch us put on our plays, our little Halloween parties. I can even remember a night she invited a few of us girls over and we camped out in her back yard. Tammy loved to plan things out on paper and have things run smoothly as to of planned. And she loved conversation. That girl talked more than anyone I knew. We could go years without talking and pick up where we left off. She had planned our second pregnancy baby showers together. After our babies were born life happened and we kind of just grew apart. We have families of our own now. Tammy was and has always tried hard for her family. Was a hard worker in all and everything she did. And loved hard. I wish I had stopped in a little more these past few years like a friend should have. This just doesnt seem real or fair. But there are worst hurting right now. I cant imagine for her children, her husband and her mother. I will continue to pray for this family. The lords timming doesnt make sense to us. The lord has a plan for her that we just arnt sure of. Im so very Thankful for all Tammy has been there for me, and the memories we have made together. She was The Best!

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