Miriam

September 6, 1985

Dad

Mirs and the Tu-tu! Dressed to kill, baby. You loved it. How bout Mirs playing the Entertainer Jimmy Hendrix Style? Upside down laying on the piano Bench? Miriam and her friends - as a placid, "go with the flo" kinda guy, I could never understand the drama/pain that was always involved! Mirs, sorry for the trauma of your first backpacking trip. The fierce wind and almost losing hannah over the cliff... Beautiful child, my "brown -eyed girl" Mirs played the organ for the ward when she couldn't even reach the pedals. People were like" what's that little kid doin up there?" Once mom and I made Mirs go to church despite her protests of being sick. She launched right in the middle of Sacrament meeting. Can never forget Mirs and Lynn, the piano teacher.

Sarah

Miriam: I have memories of her playing music beautifully, hiking with her and just generally having a good time. But it wasn't until before her mission that we really bonded. We exchanged some emails that were so deep and philosophical that I can't believe we could communicate so well without even talking on the phone. I loved her thoughts, wisdom and deep ambitions. After her mission, we still corresponded that way and I talked to her a lot about feeling "normal" again. I loved this time of her (and my) life.

Naomi

I remember Miriam always being so stylish. She did the short hair, the skirt over the pants, made hemp necklaces, awesome earrings, and the vests. I have always looked up to Miriam from style to talent. Miriam and I spent an entire summer together after her mission and became closer than we had ever been. That was one of the best summers of my life. Work, Humboldt Branch, Dating, Beach, outside adventures, Florida, Utah, Meeting Aaron- that summer was awesome. Each summer since, I think about our time together. I am so proud of Miriam and all she has accomplished. I am so happy she's going to be a mom. Miriam and Aaron will be great parents. Love you. Naomi

Bethany

miriam: roooommate!! the best memories were laying in our beds trying to make the best weirdest sounding noises....i never got any sleep!

Thank you everyone that came to my surprise party! And thank you to all who sent emails. Please comment if you have your own memories to share!

EDITED TO ADD:

Hannah:

My favorite, most endearing thing I remember about Miriam is the letters she would send me on my mission. She has always been beyond her years. Someone so careful as to not step on the imaginary lines she created with the corners in the furniture, I knew she was special. Miriam has always loved the things she loves. Whether it's heart shaped glasses or teaching piano, her passion for those things shines. Her love for the gospel radiates. Thanks for being who you are Mirs, I hope and pray you never change. I love you for all that you stand for.

And two from Mom:

Miriam loved her tappy shoes.  After wearing them to kindergarten for a few weeks, Mrs. Piland called me and said that she would not be able to wear them because they were not safe on the playground, being so slippery.  I explained this to Miriam and banned the wearing of them to school.  She was OK with that.  At the end of that week, Mrs. Piland called me again and asked me to not let her wear them to school.  I told her that she had not worn them to school all week.  Oh no, said she, Miriam has had them all week.  What?  Come to find out that Miriam had worn her school shoes to school and had smuggled her tappy shoes to school in her backpack, changing as she got to school!

 

I was playing the organ one Sunday and had practiced "America, the Beautiful" for sacrament meeting.  It was challenging for me but I felt mostly prepared.  In the middle of that hymn, to my horror, I glimpsed little baby Miriam crawling toward the organ.  Dad must have been distracted (can't imagine how!) and had not seen her escape.  So I realized, helplessly, that I was on my own.  It was in a few moments that Dad began to hear some crazy base notes coming from the organ.  He saw Miriam climbing over the pedals while I continued as best I could.  He did rescue me, but the congregation had a good giggle out of my plight.