Angela Johnston

Angie, I'm pretty sure she won't be expecting this because she is a cousin that I have not spent all that much time with, but none-the-less she left a fingerprint on my soul. The first descriptive word that comes to mind when I think about Angie is tough, but first thoughts are deceiving because just below the surface is the word generous.

My cousin Todd, who passed away last year, loved turtles. He would collect them. Just before he died we were talking about his obsession with turtles, and he told me that his paternal grandmother would say to him "sometimes you've got to be like a turtle and stick your neck out to get anywhere." We continued to talk about turtles and how their shell is hard to protect themselves, but really they are softies, how turtles live to be so old because they are careful and wise, and so on. Angie reminds me of a turtle.

To people that don't know her she may come across a gruff, but beneath that sailor mouth, she can swear with the best of them, and her devil may care demeanor, "I don't give a #*&%!," is a sweetheart with a heart of pure gold. Shhh! She wouldn't want too many to know. ;-) She also sticks her neck out regularly either to protect those she loves and/or to get somewhere. I love that she does not seem to be afraid of anything or anyone. Because of Angie, I try never to, she would love this cliche' I am about to use, 'judge a book by its cover' because like Angie you could find a softy under a hard exterior.

Her love of the "scary" fascinates me. I am pretty sure she has told me that Halloween is at the top of her favorite holiday list. Somehow, I think there is a direct correlation between how much she cares about you and whether she has tried to scare you or not. I remember when I was little, probably around 12, she put a movie in called The Hitchhiker and watched it with me and her brothers. I think just to see us get scared. I am pretty sure I did not sleep for weeks. A few years ago I was in Nebraska for Christmas and she gave her sister, who is terrified of dolls, a life size Chucky doll, just for a few giggles. The gift definitely got a reaction. She is lighthearted and it is fun to watch how much of a kick she gets out of the scare. Not only does she like to scare others, but also likes to scare herself. She loves the paranormal and seeking it out.  

But... Probably the biggest fingerprint she left on my soul is the composure in which she handled an embarrassing moment. I have had my share of embarrassing moments, and I always think of one that I experienced with her because I was soooo embarrassed for her. It was my first memory of seeing an embarrassing moment happen. I was about 9 or 10. Angie, was visiting from Nebraska, and one of my family's traditions was to go to Green Canyon, a natural hot springs, when family came to visit. While we were there my brothers, and cousins were playing "chicken." (This is a game where two people sit on the shoulders of two others and they try to pull one another off the shoulders into the water.) Angie was wearing a bikini, not fully prepared for what was about to happen, and sitting on the shoulders of Ross. "Chicken" commenced and in the midst of the fighting and wrestling Angie's bikini top came untied. Several people saw her topless and she just grabbed the straps and tied it up again. There was no freaking out, no crying, and no drama. In fact, if I remember correctly she continued to play. She is a trooper!

Angie, my turtle. Thank you for your generosity of spirit. You have a beautiful, funny, smart, soul. Even with your scary antics and turtle shell exterior. I am grateful to be one of lucky people that gets to see the softy underneath. Thank you for being an example of a strong woman who sticks her neck out to get somewhere. I love you!