Shannon
Known Since: 1987
Resides In: Napa, CA
Shannon was another Mission Park little sister, specifically, A.T.'s little sister, back when we first met. She was a partier from the start, and was part of the Mission Park experience from early on. Always the life of the party, Shannon was both a staple of our group and of her own group of friends, and the two would often intermingle at certain occasions (which was good, because it brought other girls around, of course...). She's an organizer and leader at heart, and she was always the one getting evenings and events and parties together. I knew no one who knew more drinking games than her. She didn't stay as just A.T.'s sister for long at all, but became a Mission Parker in her own right, and as time passed and she got older, our friendship became closer, and she became like a sister to me, too. We'd go to concerts together, and movies, and other stuff. She and I were co-plotters of many a gang event. But lest you get the idea that Shannon was all about the partying, Shannon had hands-down the strongest work ethic of any of us, and achieved a lot of success along the way.
As time kept going by, Shannon eventually got engaged, and I was both the video guy at her bachelorette party (one of my favorite camcorder videos) and at her wedding. Of course, that was yet another wedding video I shot where the marriage ended up not working out, so I'm starting to think maybe me taping these things is bad luck... But not in this case, because Shannon went on to meet Rick, the man she would marry and start a family with. Shannon is funny, full of energy, always wise beyond her years, caring, dedicated, and deeply committed to all the people in her life. She's also one of the people in my life to seek a spiritual path, which has always made me respect her more and appreciate having someone around that doesn't make me feel like the only one. It's amazing to think back on all the years we've known each other, and the things we've been through, all the changes in our lives. I've been blessed to know her for all these years, and to have a little sister that I'm so very proud of.
Random Me and Shannon Memory: That night you dropped by and gave me that perfumed silk rose. That always meant a lot to me, in case I never told you so. And I'm also sitting here laughing and thinking about that drunken answering message you left me that I still have on tape...
