a sister of sorts.

Chelsea became my surrogate older sister the first time she babysat me and my sisters. I must have been 7 or 8 at the time, but I knew immediately that there was no one else like her and I was right. She was the greatest. Whenever my parents were leaving town it meant Chelsea was coming over and I couldn't wait. She would make every day fun. We would watch movies, make brownies, play games, have crepes for breakfast, have slumber parties with Hannah and Sam, and go on adventures around the city. I admired her in every way. I wanted to dress like her, act like her, smile like her, and do the things she did. I vowed that when I grew up I was going to be someone Chelsea would be proud of. She was perfect. She still is.

When Chelsea went to London that fall before she passed away my family missed her so much. I remember one day I was home alone and she called. We didn't talk for very long, but she wanted me to tell everyone hi, that she missed us, and loved us, and would see us soon. I was so amazed that she just went and lived in London that I decided that I would do that one day too. If Chelsea was doing it then it had to be a must.

Last fall I did just that. I went to London. I lived where she lived, walked the streets that she walked, and thought of her every day. I could feel her presence in 27 Palace Court, and realized that she was my Guardian Angel over there. When my parents came to visit we were sitting in the classroom and my mom and I just started to cry because we could feel her there. She was so close and as my mom hugged me I know Chels was hugging me too. London was such a special time for me because it was something I wanted to do ever since Chelsea did it. It was an experience I'll never forget and I have her to thank for that.

The week before Chelsea passed away she was babysitting my family and spent her 20th birthday at my house. I will always cherish that week. I remember her friends coming by all day, us making cupcakes, and even putting on a show for her with my friends to the Lion King soundtrack. I can still see her in sweats, a sweatshirt, two buns in her hair, barefoot, waking me up for school. I can see her vacuuming while singing "Twist and Shout". I can see her laughing and smiling and hugging everyone like they were the most important person to her in the world. I was only 11 at the time, but ten years later I am still trying every day to live up the person she was.

Chelsea still plays a part in my life in everything. I love the Hale family so much and consider them family too. Ali spent countless times babysitting us too and I look up to her so much. Hannah and Sam became some of my best friends in high school and still are to this day. Karen is someone I have learned so much from and I know if I ever need advice to talk to her. London was Chelsea and I'm so grateful for that. The year after she died my parents gave my sisters and me a framed picture of her. Each of us have it in our rooms and I know they, like me look at it every day and remember how incredible she was. We love her and consider ourselves so blessed to have been part of her life so closely for those few years.

Chels, I miss you every day and I love you. I can't wait to see you again!

xoxo

Love,

Kacey Schneider