Kelly and I were roommates for three of our four years at Ohio State.  But I honestly don’t think the term “roommate” even begins to define the depth of our relationship.  Kelly was one of my very best friends and I don’t have even the slightest clue as to how I am going to get through the rest of my life without her.  Seven years of having Kelly Beerman as one my best friends is nowhere near enough.

Kelly was beautiful.  She was smart. She was funny and she had an impeccable singing voice…or least that is what I told her all the times that she belted out songs on the radio, songs by Justin Bieber or songs being performed on American Idol…yes we admittedly watched American Idol together.  I can’t even begin to quantify or describe all of the wonderful memories that I have made with Kelly both at Ohio State and in the years following our graduation.  I would like take this time to share just a few memories that I will carry with me for always.

Our sophomore year in college, Kelly and I made a pact.  We decided that life in the real would never be as fun as the time we spent at Ohio State.  After several serious discussions and weighing all the pros and cons like responsible adults should, we agreed that upon graduation, we would promptly admit ourselves into a nursing home and spend the rest of our days being waited on.  We figured that our meals would be provided, we would be able to play bingo every day, and we would be nowhere near the craziest people there.  In our spare time, Kelly decided that it would only be practical to have wheelchair races up and down the hallways.  As the years passed, nearly every conversation Kelly and I had about the future included some reference to our dream of playing bingo and knocking each other off of our wheelchairs. 

I will always cherish how much Kelly made us all laugh.  She had a way, sometimes accidentally, of making us laugh so hard we cried.  By far, the funniest conversation Megan and I ever had with Kelly was during our spring break trip to Daytona Beach, Florida during our Junior year of college.  Admittedly, this conversation started after we probably had a bit more to drink than was necessary.  As a group of us sat around the dinning table playing card games, we began to talk about our heritage and where our family was originally from.  When it came time for Kelly to talk, she proudly stated that her family was from the Neverlands.  Megan and I immediately lost it and Megan proceeded to ask Kelly if she meant the Netherlands.  Kelly unequivocally answered Megan’s question in the negative and assured us that they were in fact from the Neverlands.  When Megan and I continued to question Kelly, she picked up the phone, dialed her mother, and immediately put her on speakerphone.  Kelly was so sure that she was right, and was thoroughly disappointed when in response to her asking whether she was from the Neverlands, Kelly’s mom replied: “No Kelly, you are not Peter Pan.” I don’t think we ever let her live that down and she was such an amazing sport about it.

            The final memory that I would like to share about Kelly relates to a camping trip that we took on the little Miami river in August of 2010.  Kelly called me the week before the trip was planned and told me to get super excited.  She proceeded to inform me that she was planning on filling 200 water balloons for a water balloon toss.  When I informed her that I had not been a participant in a water balloon toss competition since I was a small child, her only response was to tell me that I had better start practicing.  I can only imagine what people passing by our campsite thought as they watched eight grown adults toss 200 water balloons back and forth, getting soaked and screaming like children.  I can honestly say that some of the most fun that I have ever had was because Kelly planned something for us to do that would make us feel like kids again.

            Kelly was one of the most fun and caring people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.  To her, the most important people in the world were her family and friends.  She lived for making sure that everyone around her was happy and taken care of.  In the midst of her mother’s sickness Kelly was poised, graceful and incredibly grateful for the time she was given with her family.  She was the epitome of strength during a time when she had every reason to show weakness.  I have no doubt in my mind that she is in heaven with her mother watching down over us all as we try to make some sense out of this horrible tragedy.  I am certain she will be my guardian angel until the day that we are reunited.

Kelly Lynn, you were the most compassionate and wonderful person I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.  I will never forget the trouble we got into or the wonderful memories we made along the way.  I will love you forever and you will always be in my heart.  I’ll be seeing you.