One Thing in Common

In the late 90's the term 'melting pot' was en vogue. In reference to diverse populations (whether small or large), the term was used optimistically. Highland High was often referred to as a melting pot in it's own right, unfortunately we did not exactly live up to the name. We struggled to find our safe haven in the social whirls and teenage turmoils of life. It was not often that we took the opportunity to 'melt together', in most occasions we did just the opposite. How in the world did we all survive? We had a single cohesive element holding us all together and her name was Chelsea Anne Hale.

We cling to the idea that Chelsea found the good in everyone but I must respectfully disagree; Chelsea didn't have to find anything, she had no criteria, she simply loved people for who they were and nothing else. It is that wisdom that allowed and motivated her to create a network for the rest of us to draw from. Chelsea is the common element in many (seemingly) unlikely bonds among us. This so-called network of friends enabled us to find the good in each other and strive to embrace fully. Countless relationships may not have existed without the influence of Chelsea Anne Hale.

Following is a list of my favorite memories and reminders of my friend,
Chelsea Anne Hale:

-The dangle fish earrings she was wearing the night I met her at Litzas, I think she may even be wearing them in our 8th grade yearbook picture.
-Shirly legs
-Her bike parked in the downstairs hallway at the DG house.
-Playing with my hair.
-Leaning on me. She was always leaning on me, to the point of awkward discomfort but somehow I loved that she was oblivious.
-One week she forgot to dress up for Formal Meeting at the DG. She asked for the key to my apartment so she could ride over and borrow some of my clothes. I remember thinking, "I'm flattered, but seriously?!, your entire body will fit in a single arm of my blouse." She came back with my 'skinny clothes' barely clinging to her bitsy frame. I still have that skirt hanging in my closet. (It's not out of style, it's vintage now...)
-The day she told me her Africa tan turned out to be a build up of dirt after she watched it spiral down the shower drain.
- "Uh Huh"
- "Right."
- "Really..." translation "Ya right! Don't believe you."
- Her infatuation with Dave Chisholm and Ben Metcalf.
- That one smile she did when she clenched her jaw and smiled at the same time. I called it the feisty smile.
- Her refusal to be offended by stupid things.
- Watching her try to act serious and appreciative as we went through the 'unique' Delta Gamma initiation ceremony.
- "Meet 'cha there!" (meaning- I am so not going to be there)
- I am 100% positive she never called me Whitney, not even the day we met, it was always Whit or Whit H. Everyone was her pal, formalities shmorm-alities.
-The night she slept over and talked my ear off as I dozed in and out of sleep. Around 3 am she informed me she was an insomniac.
- One day Chel tried to use her body as a barrier between Rex and me as we assaulted each other with a long list of profanities during a ridiculous fight about water balloons. Just one of many times she stepped in as Mother Hen.
- Her voice. Chelsea had a really soothing voice that I will never forget and always miss.
- Laying on the beach with her head bobbing up and down on my stomach as we laughed and laughed and laughed till it hurt.

"Love has no bounds"
I have only known one person who could utter these words without projecting the usual tone of cliche,
Chelsea Anne Hale.

XO, Love, and ITB
Whit H.