Letter from a friend

Dear Lev,

You are one of a kind, truly in a class of your own.   I only knew you for a short period of time, but I have many fond memories of you, most of which make me laugh out loud when I think of them.  I remember the first time I met you in Monteverde in the summer of 2003, just days before your 8th birthday.  I did not know what to make of you during those few days before school started, as you ran around like a mad man one second and then moments later recited some random, fascinating fact that you had learned from one of the hundreds of books that you had read.  I knew right away that you were different, but I soon discovered that you were actually awesome.  

Fast forward a few months.  You, Jaal, and I are riding in the back seat of the brown Trooper, on our way down the mountain to the beach.  We are playing with one of those 20 questions balls, trying to stump the computerized brain.  We are in total disbelief when it correctly guesses that we are thinking of a sloth.  We get in some good laughs, but before long, you abruptly and matter-of-factly announce that we must pull over so that you can vomit on the side of the road.  I feel bad that you are carsick, but I am secretly very relieved that you don't barf on me.  I am not so lucky on the next trip to the beach, sitting next to you once again in a crowded van.  It comes out of nowhere, unannounced, and it is epic. Strangely, I find you more endearing after this gross episode.

 

Here are some other hilarious things I remember about you:

--The time you designed and posted flyers about "stick fighting" lessons—Haaaaaa!!  I still remember your drawing.  You took it so seriously.  That was brilliant.

 

--The fact that you were responsible for dubbing your dog "Snowy Snowfoot"—amazing.  

 

--The time you and I got into an argument over the correct spelling of the word "awesome."  Even after I pulled out a dictionary, you were still incredulous.  I admired your conviction, even after being proven wrong.  It was so quintessentially "Lev" of you.  

 

--The time I came to visit your family in Sedro Woolley in September of '08, and the first thing I saw when driving up the road to your home was you on the side of the road, dressed in a full armor of foam, apparently having just engaged in combat of some kind.  

 

My favorite memory of you was from that same visit to your hometown.  Rebecca, Tony, Jaal, you, and I piled into the car and took a drive to a beautiful recreational area with a pebbly beach and a gorgeous view of the surrounding mountains.  We sat by the water's edge in the late afternoon sun and reminisced about our days in Costa Rica.  You had matured so much in just a few years, and I remember thinking that you were still as unique and funny as when you were younger.  I will miss you, Lev, but I will continue to laugh when I think about all of the amazing things that made you you.

Jennifer Turner (Muscia)

Rebecca