this blog has taken me a long time to write...  every time i’ve sat down to get my thoughts out on “paper” the past several months, i would get choked up and couldn’t even begin to type...

i’m also VERY sensitive about writing a blog of this type, because quite frankly, i don’t have anything unique to offer the world in regard to the life of a friend of mine who lost her life earlier this summer...  i feel like i should leave it up to the people who “really knew her.”  quite honestly, i feel somewhat like a junior high girl—you know the type—those girls that hop on the “drama bandwagon” every time a tragedy of some sort happens and they end up spending the entire day crying in the guidance office and getting “grief counseling” when in reality they barely even knew the person.  i know, i know, that’s a harsh and judgmental stereotype, but you get my point...  i’m just sensitive to people using other people’s tragedy as a means to gain attention or sympathy...  so, from this point on, please know that my real motive for writing this blog is to spread katie’s artistry and spirit, in hopes that someone out there might be changed by her work...

needless to say, the world has lost a great person...

i met katie my junior year of high school (1995-96) when we were both in the christian drama group mishpachah, inc.  katie quickly became one of my most favorite people in the world.  her talent was amazing, her sense of humor rocked my face off, and her heart was the largest of anyone i had ever met...  if i close my eyes, i can still hear and see her standing in the aisle of the huge tour bus belting out the mariah carey song, “all i want for christmas is you,” as we stroll down the road towards colorado...  one of the memories that i’ll cherish forever...

after i dropped out of mish my senior year of high school, katie and i lost touch with each other...  thankfully, however, there were several occasions throughout college that our paths crossed—usually in the most random of places or obscurest of situations.  most notably, we bumped into each other at a private invitation-only acoustic amy grant “concert” with only 100 other “v.i.p.” people at a bookstore in cincinnati, where we each got the chance to meet and talk with amy...  katie and i spent the whole night catching up—in between moments of amazement which included phrases such as, “i can’t believe i’m going to meet amy grant in person tonight!” and “this is so cool.”

after college, we lost touch again until i ran into her at rohs street cafe in downtown cincinnati one afternoon as i was coming home from one of my grad school classes...  as always, it was good to see katie and to catch up...  as many people will tell you, getting the chance to sit and talk with katie or listen to her perform her music made you feel like your life was somewhat closer to being complete...  i miss those times that we did get together, and looking back i’m sad that i didn’t make the time or effort to stay in closer contact...  i guess that’s how life works some times...

katie was just one of those people that made you feel good about your life because when you ran into her years later she still remembered your name...  you knew somehow you mattered...and katie validated that...

unfortunately, about two years ago, katie began to experience side effects from a rare tumor in her upper left jaw.  it quickly progressed into her skull base and then spread into her face, which left her blind in one eye. ultimately, it robbed her of her voice and ability to perform, before taking her life on july 14, 2008...  like me, she was only 30 years old...

to read more about katie’s life & death, you can check out an excellent article written in the new york times after her death... or check out her official website or a fan-generated memorial website focusing on her life and music.

whatever you do, be sure to check out katie’s music...  for her life was her song...  you’ll find her music in many places, most notably at true anthem, iTunes, or amazon.

i’ve also included a few things below that i’ve found on the internet that will hopefully give you a taste for her music and an appreciation for her life...