Clarissa,
Got news that changed my
life. The day I met Clarissa, my life
changed too. We met when we were both
sassy 14 year olds, in our first
year in high school. She was super
confident and did not sympathize with my stupid insecurities. Instead I made her laugh. Her laughter was never mean, like some girls,
instead she found my stupid behaviors and insecurities funny. She changed my perception, and I liked it so
much, I began to depend on her. She
laughed at all the stupid things I said and did. And I offered plenty of opportunities to laugh. Her laughter warmed my awkward insecurities.
When we were in high school, I was the teenager who was always trying something new.
Whether it was a stupid eye make-up or a weird “style”, she
corrected me with laughter. It was just
what I needed. Once in Biology class
with an ornery teacher, who had way too many germ phobias and crazy rules to
ever be an effective teacher, started picking on my friend, Clarissa. He told her answer was not correct. Then proceeded to “tell us” the correct
answer, which was exactly the same thing Clariss said, but in his own
words. Well, I am not wired to sit back
and watch an innocent person get picked on by a crazy teacher, so I let the
teacher know, “same difference.” Well,
he proceeded to argue his point and I said, “whatever!” Then I let him know my feelings with a
gesture. That got me kicked out of class
for 3 days, until I apologized. Never
one to sit back and watch people get picked on and I will never regret sticking
up for Clarissa. She was and will always
be worth the fight.
She oozes confidence, attitude and
warmth. I still don’t want to let that
go. We have had so many wonderful times
together full of great memories and good times.
Clarissa went head to head with a
novice P.E. teacher in her first year teaching.
Clarissa let her know her methods of teaching were not serving her
students properly. She did not do it in
a mean way, but nonetheless the comment was not appreciated, and she was
kicked out of class. When Clarissa’s
mother came down to Antioch High School to see what was going on, she found the
teacher hiding in the back room of the P.E. offices trying to avoid the
confrontation. Yes, she was hiding. Now,
Mrs. Montgomery, later explained that she did not plan to get all up in the
teacher’s business. She half expected to
find Clarissa was at fault. But when the
teacher took a wimpy role of “hiding” and avoiding her, she lost all respect
and headed straight up to the principal, Mr. Richardson’s office. After Mrs. Montgomery and Mr. Richardson
chatted an apology was arranged, and teacher apologize to Clarissa and her
mother.
Once we were coming back from
Walnut Creek over Kirker Pass during a heavy downpour. The windshield wipers on her 1969 Falcon
stopped working. Instead of freaking
out, she simply stopped her car, got out of her and gave the windshield wipers
a little TLC to get them working again. She
always tried to maintain calm, which made her cool.
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| Antioch High Seniors 1978 |
When she saw friends losing it, she
tried so hard to help them see a better way.
I can think of a few times where her words and caring passion came
through. She told people off, but it was
always thought through. I learned a lot
from her.
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| Wayne says something naughty |
I found so many things about Clarissa
worth emulating. She loved going to
church and I loved going with her, because she sang so well and with such joy. I am not a good singer, but that did not stop
me from singing along with every song that played. We have
so many wonderful memories singing to the Bob Seger album (probably an 8-track)
in Christy’s Dad’s Chevy Van during the 1970s.
We learned every word of his songs and sang them loud and louder. "…working on the Night Moves!"
Now, when I am church, I wish she
was there. She elevated the somberness of mass with her joy. It
is so hard to explain, but Clarissa truly embraced the meaning of church and
God.
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| 1999 Bridesmaid |
In this picture, Clarissa was being
introduced at my reception. All the
people, who were part of the wedding party were recognize for their
contribution and love to our lives.
Clarissa and her mother flew down from Antioch to share in my wedding
festivities. It is one of the memories I
treasure the most. It was 1999, so we
were not the teenagers anymore. We were
grown-ups and our friendship endured.
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| LaVera, Ashlye & Chris |
Clariss
and her mother made the tensions surrounding a wedding nearly invisible with
their love, compassion, understanding and laughter. Even when they arrived at the church before
the bridal party and the arrangements were not set-up correct, LaVera just went
to work to make sure all the arrangements were in order when the wedding
started.
There are so many great memories that
I share with my friend. She is a good
person and I am so glad I got to be her friend.
She made it so easy to drift after with life and get back together. I kind of took that for granted and hope to
never do that again. Unfortunately, I
never have a friendship like I had with this remarkable woman. God, sometimes takes the good ones too soon.
When Whitney Houston passed away,
she wrote me a little message, “Whitney is gone.” She took it very hard. That is Clarissa’s charm, her big heart. She
always found good in people.
Besides singing she loved to
dance. In the late seventies disco was
big and dancing was cool. Clarissa loved
dancing as much as singing. When she
danced her head got hot. She hated that,
because it made her hair do crazy stuff.
When Clarissa danced it made you feel good because she loved it so much.
In fact, once she won a rock radio
station hosted dance contest with another Antioch High student, and was assigned
to compete at the next level. The next
level was held the Concord Pavilion, which was kind of a big deal. Days before the next contest, her dance
partner called because he wanted to practice their dance routine. Clarissa did not want to lead the boy on and
felt confident in her dancing that she did not see a reason to practice. Nevertheless, a group of us all piled into
her car to see her dance at the Concord Pavilion. It is a fun and fabulous
memory.
One of the best compliments I ever
received from another student was that Clarissa and I must be twins. When we first heard it we laughed and
laughed. Then we used it all the time. It was our inside joke. It makes me wonder, “What will I do without
my twin?”
One of the few times I pissed off
Clarissa was on a ski trip at Bear Valley Ski Resort. It was a beautiful Spring day and we were
getting of the chair lift. Apparently, I
pushed her, instead of the chair and she got stuck on chair lift. When I turned
around after exiting the lift, there she was still sitting on the chair lift
just about to make the turn back down the hill.
She was furious as the operator helped her off the chair. I did not help much, because I just laughed
and laughed. Yet, I knew she was pissed off, so it did not happen again.
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| Denzel and Clarissa 2000 |
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| Denzel, a boy with his cotton candy |
In 2000 Clarissa and Denzel
vacationed in San Diego. It was a short visit, full of memories. I got to be
part of her and Denzel’s life. We went
to Disneyland and Sea World that summer just like tourists. Denzel was super cute with his love of cotton
candy, hesitant to “pet the dolphin” and excited to get splashed by Shamu. Great
memories and good times.
She is the most deceit person I
know. In fact, her family is the warmest
and hardest working people I have ever known.
Both her Dad and her Mom worked complete careers and retired. Then they both started up new careers after
retiring. Eulas retired from the Navy
and worked another career at the U.S. Postal Service. LaVera worked at Dow Chemical until she
retired and worked in merchandising for years.
These people are salt of earth with the biggest hearts. I wish them Godspeed.
She is a light in my life. She
makes me grateful. I continue to miss my dear friend. I wish I could talk to her one more time.
I have so many memories, I want to share them, but I will never get this published.
I hope you will share your memories too!
