My Friend Katie

My childhood friend, Katie Cremer Johnson, passed away recently, way too soon.
Katie was one of the most spirited and vivacious people I’ve ever known, full of fun, laughter and mischief.  In high school, she once wore a teacher’s shoes around all day.  They were the black, orthopedic kind with holes in the toes.  When the teacher spotted them, we expected fireworks.  Instead, she said sweetly, “Why, I have a pair just like that!”  When we went on school bus trips, usually to basketball games in some nearby town, we would often sing “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall” to pass the time–and drive adults to distraction.  We’d get all the way down to 1 bottle of beer on the wall and Katie would call out, “One more time!”  (At which we all threw things at her.)
Katie, I will miss you.