The memory of our first meeting is so clearly printed on my mind, Lisa was sitting on Dawn Nillson's bed playing a Super Nintendo racing game, her fluffy hair was pulled back in a banana clip, she didn't have contacts yet, so her blue eyes were huge as they looked at me through the lenses of her glasses, and she was wearing a purple shirt and black shorts. We didn't like each other at first, and then for what ever reason, Lisa was my very best friend. Even when she transformed into the beautiful woman we all know and love, I remember her this way, a clumsy girl with the wheeziest, infectious laugh I'd ever heard. That gorgeous girl changed my life. If I had never met Lisa, I would never have seen the jungles of Tikal from a harness and a zip line, I wouldn't have climbed an active volcano, I wouldn't have jumped out of a plane from 13,000 feet, nor would I have sung every word of every song from the Lion King terribly outside of Mr. Ware's driver's ed class. If I had never known Lisa I wouldn't be the only person I know who can watch the last scene from Friday the 13th and laugh hysterically instead of being scared out of my wits. We were at one of many slumber parties at Amber's house and that particular scene sent Lisa right into orbit the first time she saw it, and it really didn't help matters any when Am's dad spent the rest of the evening jumping out of closets, and grabbing ankle's as we ventured down stairs to get some snacks. Life with Lisa was never dull, or boring, and for this I have a precious memory for any and every occasion. Her smile didn't just light up a room, it exploded through it. The pearly whites, those deep dimples, the twinkling of her baby blues, and when it was aimed at you, you couldn't help but answer with one of your own, even if you were madder than heck at her. Lisa had this habit of always wanting the last word, and this became a contest between us, she usually won of course, because she had this way of saying something in a way that you couldn't beat…well my Mom was driving us up to my Grandpa's cabin, and Lisa and I were doing our typical debate, it was pretty late and rather dark in the car, so when Lis stumped me, I didn't just see her smile, I heard it. And in all my years and travels, her smile is still the only one I've ever known so well I could hear it from a mile away. Lis, Am and I all saw the movie Casper together, we ignored the looks and snickers as the three of us danced and sang through the ending credits. But before all of this there was a song that Lisa decided was "our song," it's Remember Me This Way, every word of it rings true, but the line that hits me the hardest now is "I know you can't stay, a part of you will never, ever go away, your heart will stay." Lisa's friendship and presence in my life is the Greatest gift God ever bestowed upon me, I'll treasure it always. I know that as long as I dance, sing, smile and seize every adventure that comes my way, she'll be right there, beside me every step of the way.