Brenda Holst

 Until I met Brenda I never knew how valuable friendship could be. Even casual friendships can be life long, especially the ones with people you work with.

 

I met Brenda my sophomore year of college. We both worked on campus for Campus Parking Services. We took payments for tickets that students, faculty and staff had gotten while on campus. We where hired at exactly the same time. We were both sophomores in college finally fitting in and getting use to college life. (My sophomore year, I started to get a hang of how things are in college and learned how to balance my time.)

 

We slowly got to know each other, and when you see someone everyday you cant help but to get to know someone. Especially when most of the other people that worked with us was way older than us (in their 40s and up) But I loved that job. It was a campus job so they were very lenient with our schedules. We worked around our classes and during finals week, we got the week off.

 

 I loved working at Campus Parking Services. The people they were amazing. Even though at times they got on my nerves. Ron Pearson was the big boss back then. Ron was the sweetest man and the best boss anyone could ever have. He was a retired police superintendent who took the job as  the Campus Parking Coordinator to “clean the department up” because some guy had embezzled thousands of dollars sometime just before Brenda and I was hired. There was Laura Lundelius, the student’s supervisor (at the time, Laura eventually got promoted to Coordinator). She had to be one of the most sincerest and loving person in the world. I loved her and she deserves every promotion in the world. (Love u Laura) Then there is Beth, the accountant. She was nice but very quiet. But once I got to know her I found her to be wonderful too. Sue was the office secretary, the crazy but fun one. She always had something funny to say. Lastly, there was Yvette and Bonnie. The craziest and indescribable two people I have ever met.

 

Lastly, there was Brenda. Brenda ()I looked forward to going to work when I knew Brenda was going to be there. We had fun when we were at work. We barely got any work done because we would talk so much. We would talk about everyday life , work and graduating. After work, we would walk home together just talking about anything and everything.

 

Fast forward two years later, Brenda was looking forward to graduating from NIU next spring and I was kinda sad because (it was taking me 5 years to graduate) I wouldn’t have her to talk to at work anymore.  Then Brenda fell in love. Brenda had met this guy through one of her friends that she just instantly fell in love with. At work, he was all she would talk about but I didn’t mind because I understood how exciting it is when you are in a new relationship. But there was one problem, her new boyfriend lived all the way in

New York .  So Brenda made arrangements to fly to

New York to see her new beau. She was so excited and I was excited for her. She left sometime towards the end of October to see him. I couldn’t wait until she was back so I because I was so bored at work. Brenda stayed there about three days then she came back to

Chicago . Once back in

Chicago , Brenda had to drive to school so she could be at work the next day.

 

Meanwhile, back at school I was at work, I was so bored that day. I remembered thinking all day “Damn when is Brenda coming back.”   Then there was a customer at my window so I got preoccupied with helping them. The phone started ringing at I got up to get it but I had a customer so Bonnie came up to the front and got the phone.

 

(I remember this just like it was yesterday too.)

Then Bonnie got this funny look on her face and asked for Ron. Ron came to the front and got on the phone. He looked funny when he got on the phone, paused, seemed to stare in the sky and then hung up the phone. Then he walked to the back. Another customer walked in so I got preoccupied with helping them.  After a while, I noticed that everyone was in the back so I got up to see what everyone was doing.  

 When I walked to the back, I saw Beth and Laura hugging. I thought to myself, “What the hell is going on?”  Then I for some reason I cant remember what exactly happened next . The next thing I remember is  hugging Laura and walking back up to the front with my eyes watering. I remember trying to hold back my tears because I was still at work and  I had a customer at my window.  I remember turning my face away from my customer because I didn’t want them to see the tears build up in my eyes. Then Beth came up and took over helping the customer. I went to the back and cried my heart out and then they let me go home early from work. I had never in my life lost someone before. Death was a new concept to me. All my close family members are alive. I never lost anyone so close to me.

The coroner called our job that day to get in touch with her nearest relative because sheonly had her NIU ID on her.  Brenda didn’t have any brothers or sisters and her father died while Brenda was in high school. Brenda’s mother was her only relative.

  Brenda was so young and 5 JUST 5 months away from graduating from college. She was driving to school on her way back from

New York on a rainy day. Suddenly her car started to Hydroplane on the pavement just as two semi trucks were passing her on the other side. Brenda’s car slid into the first truck spun and then slid into a second.

 

I cant describe the feeling I felt when I heard that Brenda died It was like my heart dropped into my stomach. It felt unreal. It wasn’t real! It couldn’t be! Brenda was so young, she was just here last week. How would someone be gone so quick?

 

 For days I asked God why. Why Brenda ? Why so sudden? As the months went by, thing got easier. I began to think as Brenda as watching over me. It’s the only way to think of  a person that dies, it makes you feel so much better. After Brenda died, I began to think about casual friendships and relationships a lot.

 

 Brenda I miss you. You are such a great person. I wish you all the best. Stay sweet. You are a life long friend and I will remember you always.

 

 Brenda Jo Holst 1982 – 2003