"These Boots Are Made for Walkin’"...A Tribute to a Friend

I used to be very shy and quiet…Okay, for those who don’t believe that, you can stop laughing now…Some of my friends who have known me a decade or longer can vouch for this…Anyway, because of that, meeting new people and making new friends could be a painful process. Then, somewhere around the time I lost 55 pounds, 2002-ish, I came out of my shell…One of those instances included one Wendi asking at work after moving to a desk near mine, “Does anyone here watch WWE?” You could say I haven’t been quiet since then. ;)

Who knows how friendships start? It may start with a “Hi”…A smile…A common like, interest, or belief…Going through a tough time together…

…Maybe it’s working together. I have met many wonderful people out in the work world. Chris Lustig is one of those people. We were on the same team together at my previous job. Chris was always friendly, funny, and helpful, no matter what she may be going through, whether at home or at work. She faced life head-on.

One of her favorite things to do was sing…She was always game for a karaoke night. I remember the first time I heard her sing. It was our anti-Valentine’s Day karaoke night at Saxon Lanes in Little Canada on Friday, February 13, 2009…She sang, “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’.” I love that song and have sung it a time or two myself. I wasn’t sure what to expect when she sang, but when she did, she rocked the house! She would also come to my going away party when I left the company at the end of August that same year, which featured karaoke, of course…She kept singing, no matter what…And she was very supportive of me, to which I am grateful.

Chris came to my birthday dinner at the end of July at TGIFridays…It was a pleasure to see her! She wasn’t able to come to the karaoke afterwards. Then, I had the chance to see her at the MN State Fair at the end of August, at the Carrie Underwood concert at the Grandstand…Talk about a small world…Amongst the sold-out crowd, she sat one section over, a few rows up from where my mom and I were sitting! During the break between the Sons of Sylvia and before Carrie took the stage, I went down to talk to her. She was happy. If there was a chance for anyone to possibly like the Fair more than I do, it would be Chris. I wish I could have talked longer with her, but people were going up and coming down the stairs continuously, as she was sitting in an end seat, so we kept getting interrupted. Little did I know that would be the last time I would see her…In this lifetime anyway.

On Dec. 8^th, I had posted the following as my Facebook status: “It's so cold outside...I don't know if even "warm fuzzies" will help!” Chris commented, saying, “we miss you too.” I missed Chris…I missed my “Deluxe Peeps”…They were the reason to go to that job…I carry them in my heart…I <3 them. :)

It breaks my heart that Chris is no longer here with us…She will be missed…But I believe she is in a much better place…A place where she doesn’t need to worry about anything anymore…Sales numbers or call quality…All her physical pain is gone…Any mental or emotional stress…She is walking hand-in-hand with Jesus. :)

When I had heard about Chris’ passing, the song, “Go Rest High on That Mountain,” by Vince Gill came to mind, because when we were talking one day at work, she had mentioned that song. It’s one of my favorite Vince Gill songs. The chorus says, “Go rest high on that mountain / ‘Cause...your work on earth is done / Go to Heaven a shoutin' / Love for the Father and the Son.” It sums it all up…

Karaoke…“These Boots Are Made for Walkin’” was also a song my sister Char would sing at karaoke…If there’s karaoke in heaven, Char is going to have to share the microphone now. ;) Ah, but what beautiful music they must be making right now…

In honor of Chris, I was wondering who may be interested in a karaoke outing at Saxon Lanes in Little Canada this Friday night, Jan. 7^th? Karaoke starts at 9pm…I realize it’s kind of short notice…If this date doesn’t work, I am open to suggestions…Even if you didn’t know Chris personally, you are welcome to come…It’s just nice to get together with friends, because this life can be much too short…

In honor of Chris, here is her song…And I wear my boots…Are you ready, Boots? Start walkin’! :)

“You keep saying you got something for me
Something you call love but confess
You've been a'messin' where you shouldn't 've been a'messin'
And now someone else is getting all your best
Well, these boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you

You keep lyin' when you oughta be truthin'
You keep losing when you oughta not bet
You keep samin' when you oughta be a'changin'
What's right is right but you ain't been right yet
These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you

You keep playing where you shouldn't be playing
And you keep thinking that you'll never get burnt (HAH)
Well, I've just found me a brand new box of matches (YEAH)
And what he knows you ain't had time to learn
These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you

[SPOKEN]

Are you ready, boots?
Start walkin'”