I Love You Pam!!!

I think I will start by telling how Pam and I met. It was first grade and I
was the "new girl". I was also VERY shy. I sat down next to Pam (she had
long brown hair like me!) We didnt really talk much until snack time. Our
friend Brandon was having trouble opening his milk carton. Pam tried and
couldnt get it either, so she asked the new girl (me) to try it, and I did
it! Pam just told me this story a few months ago, she said that she thought
I was super cool and a strong girl to open that milk. It is all history from
there. I remember being in gymnastics together (she was always better at
handstands than I was). We played "The Secret Garden" at her grandmother's
house. We picked fresh blackberries at my grandparent's house. Every
Christmas was spent opening presents together. I will never forget the first
time I went to Charleston with Pam in the fourth grade. I remember the day
her dog Scamp died. She was so upset, but she knew he was in doggy Heaven.
Pam was there holding my hand when I told her my dad passed away (We were
15). I will never forget when we signed up for Marching Band together, we
had no idea what we were getting ourselves into! We would practice our
clarinets together in middle school (and we probably sounded horrible!) Pam
and I were both Squad Leaders and came up with fun ideas together and our
Senior year She was still a Squad Leader and I became Drum Major. I went to
her several times for encouragement (It is scary to be in front of thousands
of people!) I remember going to first priority with Pam and hanging posters
all over the walls of the school to get others to join in on the fun. After
we graduated, I moved to Toledo, Ohio. It was hard to move so far away, but
I LOVED all of the mail Pam sent me. I always knew they were from her
because of all of the colors and the stickers!!! I still have every letter
she ever wrote me, even the ones from Middle School and High School. Pam and
I gave each other birthday cards every year no matter how far away from each
other we were. (Pam was 13 days older than me). Every card would say things
like "I cant believe we are turning 10, we arent kids anymore", or "WOW 16
isnt it scary that we can drive!" or "20 seems so much older than 19". I
remember Pam telling me that she decided to be called Pamela instead of Pam.
She said that Pamela is her whole name and she really liked it. To me she
will always be Pam, my little friend who needed me to help open the milk
carton. The girl who holds a hand stand longer than me, the best friend that
helped me with my AG math homework when I just couldnt remember the formula,
the band nerd who won Grand Champion with me, and the best friend that I
ever had who prayed for me and with me all through college when I struggled
with not understanding things in my life. I went up to Chapel Hill and saw
Pamela a few weeks before God took her to Heaven. The first thing she said
to me was "Keri your hair looks great". She was laying in bed and still
thinking of others before herslef. That is just who she was. She loved
EVERYONE! I loved listening to GWU stories when we talked. You all seem like
such wonderful people! Pam was so proud to know you all. Betty, Ed and Ben:
I remember you being like my own family. Ben: I remember bothering you when
you played video games and Pam and I would try to do gymnastics in the den.
Ed: You always cooked the best suppers! and Betty: all of the kids always
talked about how they wished their mothers were more like you. You are such
an awesome mom and I KNOW that Pam knew how lucky she was to have a mother
like you because she would tell me how much fun you were and how much she
loved you! I am praying for your family, I love you all!
Keri Douglas