Nikki (Harris) Steitle
Marianne,
I just found out about your passing. I’m in utter shock. I feel so terrible for just now finding out. Thank you for befriending an awkward looking new kid from the Virgin Islands that was looking for a new friend in a new school. When I transferred near the end of 8th grade I remember I sat behind you in English class. You were bubbly and would always turn around and flip that huge curly ponytail and talk when we could. In 9th grade we became best friends. Your Mom would drive me home from school a few times a week and sometimes we would just go to your house and hang out and do our “homework”. We went to Garth Brooks concerts all by ourselves! For my 16th birthday you got me the coolest gifts I could imagine! A framed picture of my invite, a vase FULL of margarita flavored jelly bellies with the lyrics to “Two Pina Coladas” written on it. I never knew why we drifted apart, or maybe I don’t remember, but I do remember YOU. And I cherished that friendship that we had, and I always have. I’m so sorry that we never got to reconnect other than Facebook in our adulthood. You were kind, special, and we got each other in our own junior high and early high school ways. I’ll miss knowing you are just out there in the world. The hope and promise of reconnecting some time when life isn’t so busy, is so incredibly sad to loose. If I drive by Apollo, I always look towards your Moms house. Every time I drove past where your Grandma used to live I think of that big old Peugeot station wagon. Thank you Marianne Curtin for being my friend, for being my best friend during a tough transition to life in Richardson, and for caring about me. I’ll always love you for that. I will miss you friend.To her Mom and brother: I am so incredibly sorry for the loss of Marianne. I know how much she loved you and I pray that God gives you guidance in your grief. I am thinking of you and sending some good thoughts and memories Marianne’s way.