On a Sad Note

Jorma Lee Smith

9/11/1982-1/2/2009

trying on Tyler's bras that she had just bought in the dorms

Right after the Mindless Self Indulgence concert Jorma and Stu went to.

Riding home in the back of the car on our way home from Sacramento

Photo op in the dorms

At a party in Chase.  I don't remember why we posed.  We just did!  Jorma in his "towel" shirt.  He loved that thing!

My senior year in high school at our baptism.  We were baptized together.  So young!

Crashing Bandon's prom in high school.

Jorma and Rob in jail (actually on the other side of mine and Tyler's porch.)

The Port Orford Crew reunited at T-230!  Joel, Tyler, Sara, JJ, Me and Jorma.  I love how there is a wine cooler in the picture too.  we were so classy.

I remember the first time I saw Jorma.  I had been in class, in high school, and someone turned to a friend and said, "Did you know that Jorma is back?!"  I asked who that was and was told that I would know when I saw him.  Later, I was in the hall and above all the heads, I could see this amazingly crazy, bright red hair.  It was the beginning of one of the most important friendships in my life.

We drifted apart these last couple of years, staying in contact through Myspace, never really seeing each other and I apologize for that.  Jorma tried to get together and I was always busy.  I should have been there for him when he needed me but I didn't know what he was going through.  Jorma was one of my best friends, my first real guy friend.  He watched me grow up and Jorma undoubtedly helped shape who I am today.  He was one of my first kisses, he bought me my first beer, we went off to colleges together and no matter what I did, or what decisions I made, Jorma always supported me.  I can't believe that I just let us drift apart like that.  I am sad to think that Jorma never knew how important he was to me.  I never told him.

The only thing that I can do now is to think of all the fun things that we did together.  I want to think of the good times that we had and celebrate them.  

I will always miss you Jorma and I love you.  I wish that I had told you that more. 

I remember emailing each other over and over in keyboarding class, even though we sat right next to each other.

The Fourth of July in Port Orford.

Hanging out in the back room of your mom's house, around those two huge kitchen tables pushed together.

Magic carpet rides in your backyard.

Beach adventures.

Camping at Edison with a tiny tent and air mattress.

Driving around in your mom's minivan.

Tyler.

Sleepovers where we pushed tyler and my beds together in the dorm room and managed to fit 5 people on them.

Dryer adventures.  I remember that your hair started to burn.  Stinky!

Hanging out at Troy's.  Hot tub adventures where I ended up throwing up and had to sit in Troy's livingroom with a towel wrapped around me because my shirt was in the dryer.

Road trips to Sacramento.

Sitting in your apartment watching music videos at like 2 in the morning.

Easter Beer Hunts with Pabst cans painted red and blue.  I remember you couldn't remember if the paint was toxic or not and we still drank them anyway.

T-230 and three man

Getting Fire and Spice together.

Razools.

Our nicknames we gave each other.  I was Jacque-Snow and you were Jorma-smallcock.  I don't remember why.

Parties up at the river.

Monday Night Dance Parties on the wall at Battle Rock!!!!!

Randomly driving to Coos Bay in the Ravy just to get out of Port Orford.

Theater together.  I remember, you guys were in charge of the lights and sound and I was in charge of kissing Joel.  Weird!

*There will be a memorial held for Jorma at the Sixes River Grange on January 16th, 2-4pm.