Friday, October 25th
Thankfully I was able to meet with some old friends on a Friday night. We scheduled to meet each other for dinner at Carrabba's restaurant on the south side. Im not sure what we ordered or how the food tasted because I was so caught up in conversation and laughing about the past. I brought all of my photo albums that archived a lot of our silly care free days. They did not seem surprised that all the pictures were in chronological order by school year or that each event was also in order. It wasn't abnormal for me to be carrying around a camera in high school. And they all knew that I was an organizing nut because I think at one time or another I cleaned their rooms!
You see myself and these girls go back. WAY back.
I first met Amanda and Melissa in 1994 or 4th grade. I was new to Morristown. I remember Amanda and I becoming friends. She and I shared the love of Ariel from the Little Mermaid. She and Melissa were already friends when I met her. In order to share with you how close our class was you would need to know how small our town was/is. We graduated from a class of around 68 people. We had no football team or even a stop light in our town. This was a time before the internet or even Facebook. There wasn't much to do for fun. When the only outlet for fun in your town is a small bowling alley you get a lot of time on your hands to dream up ways to get into trouble. So from 1994-2003 when we graduated we were together all the time. We have many fond memories of sleepovers, school dances, birthday parties as well as music and fads.
Anna "Lindsay" Sweney
I first met Anna in Jr. High. She transferred to our school from a private Christian School. I remember going to her house for sleepovers and thinking she lived in a mansion. She had a formal dining room and a fancy living room with a piano in it that she actually knew how to play! This was leaps and bounds from anything I grew up with or was accustomed to. Her mom would always take us to church with her and then out to lunch. I was always so excited to be able to eat out with them since we rarely ate out anywhere as a family that wasn't taco bell or Mexican food. I went to church camp with her I think it was 8th grade year. Here are some pics. Sorry for quality. I had to take a pic of the pics because I don't know how to use the scanner that Ive had for over two years but that's another lesson for another day.
Id say the fondest memories I have of Anna and her family are that they welcomed me and they introduced me to the church scene. I also remember on Friday nights going to the Morristown bowling alley and Anna was the only one that I remember ever bowling lol. Im not sure what the rest of us kids were doing but there wasn't much bowling going on at the alley.
When I asked Anna what her favorite memory was of me she started laughing and gave me a look and I was thinking oh crap what did I do. She said well I remember one night you stayed at my house and we went over to my neighbors because they were having a party and you laughed so hard you peed your pants. LOL. I replied Yeah I was guilty of that on numerous occasions. What can I say I have a weak bladder and you cant hide that. She ended with yeah but you were wearing my pants! We all just busted out laughing! Sorry Anna! (Im still wondering how in the world I would have EVER fit in her skinny little jeans)
Now as far as my friendship with Anna lets fast forward a bit because that brings to mind the 2nd best memories with Anna. We hung out quite a bit in Jr. High but then in High School I don't remember us being together as much. The next best memory that I have of us together is my first bar experience! Yes we skip from church camp to drinking at a hole in the wall bar! (don't judge Im sure you've been there) I turned 21 in December so I was among the oldest of friends that I knew. So I had to wait for someone else to turn 21 so that I could actually go to a bar because well who goes to a bar by themselves??? HOORAY Anna turned 21 at the end of December so by January you can bet we were out and about. So here are some doosies of pictures that I found of our first bar visit.
Ok friends lesson #1 learned. DO NOT TAKE A CAMERA WITH YOU TO THE BAR!!! I am really not sure what is going on here. In pic one Im obviously engaged in a conversation and trying to make a point. In pic two Im posing with Anna and some guy that was buying us drinks. (Neither of us knew this guy but he was friendly enough) and in pic 3 I distinctly remember the guy taking our pic at Anna's request but he took too long and I was like HEY!! theres my drink! I also remember staying at the bar until they closed and then I had to be at work the next day. This made for a LLLOOONNGG work day. lesson #2 was learned quickly.
I think this may have been the last time I saw Anna before our Carrabbas dinner because I went away to Ball State and she went to Vincennes. Of course we have seen each others lives unfold through Facebook but had not had any face to face encounters since.
Melissa "Waltz" Napier
Oh Missy Missy Missy....The fond memories we share, where do I begin. Hmm. Maybe at the beginning. The first memory I have of us together is when we were in 5th grade and we got caught cheating on a worksheet. I remember it was indoor recess and my worksheet was completed. We couldn't play until they were done so I was giving Melissa the answers and we got busted. BOOO. The teacher called our parents and everything. Apparently "helping" a classmate has major consequences in 5th grade.
For some reason that I don't remember Melissa's dad always called me "pork chop". It started in elementary school and went on through high school. Im sure if I saw him today that he would still call me pork chop
I think it was Jr. High that I stayed the night with her and we were acting crazy and her mom was yelling at us so we busted in on her in the bathroom while she was on the toilet and took a picture of her peeing! She was soo MAD. I can still hear her yelling in a southern accent. "IM GOING TO BEAT BOTH YOUR ASSES!!! Now that was funny. Yes I have the pic but no I wont post it HA.
I remember that Melissa and I loved scary movies. I think we watched "Scream" 100 or so times. We could recite the stupid movie. Are you alone in the house Sidney!!!
There were several memories with both Amanda and Melissa but these are among some of the best with just her. Here are some pics from high school as well. I have tons of pics of the both of us but for boredoms sake here's some of my favs.
Top left is in Home Ec in Junior high when we had to learn how to sew these dumb pillows. That skill didn't stick because I have no idea how to sew now.
Top Right is among a bunch of pics that we took the day that we busted into the bathroom with her mom! (Give two bored kids a camera and they will have memories to last a lifetime I guess)
Bottom Left is obviously a Homecoming dance of some sort maybe Junior year?
Bottom Right is Junior year Field Day.
Amanda "Reber" Chestovich
I think Amanda and I kind of took over the conversation at dinner. We were both excited to talk about our pasts. I would be mid story and she would raise her hands as if she was about to testify and scream Oh Oh Oh....How about that one time when.... this went on for hours. Telling stories back and forth and all of us cracking up. I was seriously in tears from laughter and my throat really hurt from all the talking over each other and completing each others sentences. Its crazy how all those years apart and you get us in a room and we can talk like it was yesterday.
I think the conversation started something like this
Amanda-remember that one guy?
Me-Yes the crazy cracked out one at Taco Bell that wanted us to ride in his El Camino to his hotel room.
Amanda-No not that guy, I mean the one that we met off the internet that he bought us pizza and gave us a shoebox full of pot because his house was getting targeted for a drug raid.
Me- Oh yeah! (All bust out laughing).
Amanda-How about that one time I melted your computer with a candle?
Melissa-chimed in with how about when we went to that one guys house that had a hookah, I didn't know how to use it and ended up burning a hole in his rug. Holy Smokes the laughter was intense after that memory.
Amanda- OH!!! I have another one. But she starts laughing hysterically before she can tell it. We are all staring at her waiting to hear what's so funny.... Remember when we got caught drinking at 15 after sneaking vodka at the slumber party? Oh we all lost it!!!!
Me-We wouldn't of got caught if Melissa wasn't taking shots and got wasted and then decided to meander out in your front yard in nothing but thongs and a t shirt!!
Melissa- I don't even wear thongs anymore! We all busted out in laughter.
Anna- (with a straight face) I obviously have different memories than any of you.
Me- How about Amanda's 18th birthday when we filled her moms van full of girls and went downtown. We thought it would be funny to video tape me mooning cars on the way there. Good lord. Im glad I didn't get arrested! I still have the video somewhere.
Amanda-How about the "professional" Walmart pics we had taken? Ha now that was funny. I bet they thought we were a couple.
Amanda- Oh how about E Love?
Me- Huh?
Amanda- You know E Love, the guy that came to your party when you were oil wrestling and the cops showed up?
Me-Busting out laughing so hard I couldn't breathe! Yes! Yes! I remember. He said he couldn't sleep unless there was some hot wax dripping from his nipples.
We all lost it.
Amanda- Guess you aren't sleeping tonight buddy!
The cops came and gave us all breathalyzer tests. They came and pulled me out of bed and I asked if they wanted to test everyone that was in the bed. and the officer said well how many people are in your bed. LOL!!! I think I was still in a bathing suit and they said Maam I need you to blow. I was all like officer Im 100% sober. I haven't had anything to drink. And the cop says Why is there a pool in your living room? The cops didn't bust any of us for underage drinking because I think everyone that was drinking was actually over 21. I don't see what the crime is for a bunch of kids to want to indoor oil wrestle. Apparently the neighbors didn't appreciate it. The video that goes along with this enchanted evening is also tucked away somewhere. *Totally off topic but why is it I have video of me oil wrestling and mooning people but I neglect to have any video footage of my wedding!!!*
I remember Amanda and I would meet men off the internet in various restaurants and places around Indy. It was a dark time in my life because I was suffering depression. I will admit that we were in some dangerous situations that I don't think either of us are proud of but shortly after all these shenanigans she met her now husband Mike off line. Here is a picture of the four of us at her wedding in the Fall of 2005.
Melissa had already been married by the time Amanda had gotten married. Anna was attending Vincennes and I was away at Ball State. We all pretty much went our separate ways. I remember crying after her wedding because I felt like I was losing my best friend. I think that her becoming a wife definitely closed a chapter in our friendship but now that I am married and we both have children I am hoping we are able to open a new one that is full of positive experiences.
Top Left-Amanda and myself in my first apartment (obviously we both had been drinking our fair share). Top Right-Our WalMart Pics! That to this day Amanda's parents have one framed up in their living room. (Hysterical) Bottom Left Amanda and I at her first apartment after she was married Bottom Left Amanda, Anna and I at Amanda's wedding .
I must admit that it was emotional for me to spend time with these girls now women. It was taking me back to a time that I lived before I knew who I really was. A time when I was a young girl, a time when we were fearless and carefree, a time of laughter and freedom. Now we are all grown and are married. Three of us have children of our own. We are all Christ followers. My wish for these women is that I can hold a treasured place in their hearts the way they hold a treasured place in mine.
Kids 
Me and Anita! She's such a sweetheart. 
Moe Tibbetts and Paula Barz 
