Wendy

Wendy and Suzanne
February 2012

Wendy.  Window Pane.  Windchime.   I cannot imagine how life would be without Wendy.  As cliche and cheesy as it sounds, I would have missed her even if I had never met her.

Wendy was my suite mate in South Hall my sophomore year at Trinity.  We shared a closet and a bathroom with two other girls.  I liked Wendy instantly.  She would provide interesting and humorous conversation during much needed study breaks.  I could say what I really thought to Wendy, and she could do the same with me.  I enjoyed time spent with Wendy.  She made it easy to like her.  Wendy was very much like a sister to me, even from the very beginning. 

Our suite was at the very end of the hall by the fire escape (That was the same fire escape Jackie and I had to carry the couch down the stairs. Read that post here.).  I was offered a R.A. position second semester and had to move to another wing of the dorm.  Wendy moved with me and we had so much fun being roommates and sharing a closet and bathroom with Kim and Becky.  It was a very easygoing living situation.  No drama.  No inconsiderate roommates.  No complications.  A lot of fun and good times!  Wendy and I could be completely honest with each other.  She saw me at my best and worst; she forgave me my worst and accepted my best.  I adored her friendship! 



East Hall Bonfire
Kristin, Suzanne, Wendy,
Amy, Jackie

We played harmless little pranks on one another.  I would put complimentary "Stop bed wetting" info brochures from the grocery store in her text books that would fall out when she opened them.  She would then leave them in my back pack.  She would hang signs all over that said, "Please do not eat my granola bars."  (I promise I don't know what happened to her granola bars...it wasn't me!).  I took pictures of her when she was sleeping.  She returned the favor.  I threw a cup of cold water over the shower curtain when she was in the shower.   She hung a picture of me soaking wet from a ferry ride on her classroom wall.



Dressed up to go to Castaldi's circa 2004, 2005
Wendy, Suzanne, Jackie

I pulled my first and last all-nighter with her.  Wendy was a pre-med major and was notorious for staying up all night to write a paper.  We used very different approaches when writing papers.  She was a self-proclaimed perfectionist and would hand write the paper and make needed corrections. Only after it was perfect would she type it.  I started out on the computer making changes as I went along.  To me that was faster and more practical.  One week I had several papers due all on the same day, and I couldn't get everything done as I usually did.  I am usually very good about time management.  I'll stay up to get it done, but I still manage to get my sleep.  This particular night I had to write two papers and wasn't able to start until a little before midnight.  Wendy and I were in the hall lounge right across from where our room was.  She sprawled out on a bean bag chair while I typed furiously.  I knew I wasn't doing as good a job as I would have liked.  At about 3 a.m. I started my second paper.  I even had a Mountain Dew to try to stay awake.  That was a big mistake since I rarely drink soda or anything with caffeine in it.  I finally finished a little before 6:30 which was plenty of time to jump in the shower and get ready for my 8 o'clock class.  I had a brutal headache the rest of the day and swore I would never, ever, ever pull an all-nighter again.  I have no clue how Wendy was able to do that time and time again.

 


Wendy had two alarm clocks, a digital one and a tick-tock clock.  I am a sound sleeper and always slept with a fan to drown out any noises, so her clocks never bothered me.  My junior year I was assigned to the upperclassman dorm, East Hall, and Wendy had to live in the underclassman dorms.  We were able to live together again my senior year in East Hall.  This past year, Wendy told me that every year she had to live with someone other than me in college was a stinky year for her.

Wendy grew up in Waupan, Wisconsin, a few hours north of Trinity.  She graciously invited me to spend a few days with her family one winter to help celebrate her grandparents' wedding anniversary.  I took her up on it and was able to visit my very first dairy farm.  Her sister, Christie, loaned me a very comfortable pair of tennis shoes so that I wouldn't ruin the one pair of shoes I'd brought with me.  I had a wonderful time, and her entire family was very hospitable.  It was fun to see the house she grew up in and to see the church she attended. 




Ed Debevic's, Chicago
September 2011

After college Wendy drove out to Virginia with Reza, Alaine, and Thomas to attend my sister's wedding. We had so much fun, and I was delighted to spend time with them before and after the wedding. Wendy even brought a box of items I couldn't fit in my car after graduation. They left early Sunday morning after the wedding. I was sitting in church when a friend came and told me they had been in a car accident on the way back to Illinois. They were about five hours away. Everyone was okay, but they had to cut the car roof to get Wendy out. Thankfully she survived, but she has a long scar on her arm as a reminder from the accident.

Wendy's husband, Josh, is a darling man, even if he likes the White Sox.  I can forgive him for that because he always offers me adult beverages when I come to his house and introduced me to Riesling.  When they were dating, Wendy wanted me to meet him, so she invited our friend Amy and me to her home over for lunch.  Josh had gotten there early to help her make lunch.  He was interested to get to know us, and he was a good sport about taking several pictures of us together.   They are a great couple, and Josh truly brings out the best in Wendy.  They have four precious children: three girls and one boy. 



Wendy and Suzanne
painting Chicago red!

Wendy has been out to visit me in Virginia several times, and I have been back to Illinois to visit her several times as well.  The time always flies by during those visits.  The last time I was in Chicago, Wendy picked me up at the airport and let me stay at her house.  We giggled the entire way home despite the detour, missed turn, and construction on the road.  Wendy is easy to be with and can make mundane things fun.  She is sincere, thoughtful, loyal, and she keeps my secrets.

Wendy has a very kind and open heart.  If she can help a person out, she will.  If she can listen sympathetically, she will.  If she can share a funny story about herself, she will.  I just love her to pieces!