I have been trying to remember the exact moment that Jen and I became friends but I can't place it. But from the time I can remember, I remember Jen as a close friend. It had to be instantaneous. I was a misfit in business school and she embraced me and almost took me under her wing so to speak. She was my first "american" friend and we had nothing in common really. But I looked to her for advice on everything. I still remember when I didn't get that offer from Deloitte and I was super bummed she gave me perspective about consulting and told me how I didn't really want it because her experience was that its a hard life and you don't have time for friends or dating and leaves you lonely. Everything she said resonated and helped me get over that rejection. With her, I ventured outside of Chapel Hill and Franklin st. Her adventurous soul introduced me to random but amazing restos in Durham, Carrboro and Raleigh. I'd cook for her sometimes and she once told me I had burned all her taste buds because my food was so spicy. I know this might sound silly but she introduced me to Facebook and Friendster that was how fresh off the boat I was.

We kept in touch after school - she told me how her role was burning her out and how she was really hoping to meet someone and settle down. We met in NYC - she always reached out when she visited and felt like such a social butterfly because she had a gazillion plans every time. The introvert in me, flaked on her a couple of times because I was uncomfortable meeting all the other people she was bringing but looking back I hate that I did that. She was always so quick to connect people - I remember when I started my role at Nielsen in mobile stuff she immediately thought to connect me with someone at IBM doing Mobile stuff, I didn't even need to ask.

We started to slowly lose touch in the years to come - I wish, I wish I had been better about keeping in touch. I wish I had made that trip to NC that we planned so many times, I wish I had made it to every single dinner she planned when she visited NYC, I wish we talked more.

Jen was such a lovely and vibrant person. She did really save me from myself during some really bad times. She outwardly always seemed so self assured, I aspired to be like her. And those dimples though.

I am so lucky to have had a friend like you in my life Jen. I will never forget you. I wish we were better about taking pictures back then.