Remembering Katie

I don't know if it's because for 1st through 11th grade I spent every day with the same 28 or so people, but in some ways my classmates were almost like family. Even if I haven't seen them for years, we always have something to talk about. As adults we may have little in common, but those childhood bonds endure.

When something terrible happens to one of them - like Katie, who was murdered by her husband on Sunday - it's devastating. I probably saw her once since we graduated in 1991, but my thoughts are filled with memories of her and sadness for her children and family.

Here are a few of us in a photo from 2000 (Katie's on the far left).


Katie was quiet, but fiesty. Although she was a gifted athlete in all the "girl" sports, more than anything she wanted to play football. This raised quite a ruckus among the junior high players and coaches, all of whom knew she would be one of the best but still refused to let her on the team. For months, it seemed, Katie talked about how unfair it was that she couldn't play and how she would fight it. Ultimately, knowing it would never happen, she gave up.

Katie could tell a scary a story in a way only someone who grew up with lots of older brothers could. I'll never forget her story about how the devil sits at the end of your bed while you sleep. As someone who didn't know much about the devil - Lutherans like to focus on the positive - I woke up in terror for weeks thinking satan was in my room. Katie thought that was hilarious!

I don't know anything about the life Katie lived and I try not to think about her terror in those final moments. I also try not to think about what may have been going on in the months or even years leading up to her death, because I know domestic violence crescendos. Her abuse may have started with little things - maybe not even physical - that ultimately led to her death.

Katie may have been able to weave creative tales about the devil, but I know she's with the angels now.