Eric is my soulmate. Our friendship has grown into an amazing love that words can not describe. He gives so much to me - he is my strength. I don't think I would have been able to make it through the last months of work without him.

We've known each other since late-April 1998, and started dating June 1 - 14 days before I graduated! He had another year at school, so for a year, we had a long distance relationship - and we survived it! We were married August 13, 2000 :-)

Megan is the older of my little sisters. She's the middle child, and has always hated that. In fact, for most of our lives, she's hated me. Until I was away at school. We started to talk on the phone. We started to hang out when I was at home. And when I returned home for the summer after grad in June, I moved into her room until I found an apartment in August. So you can say we've gotten closer. She is my best friend. I can tell her things that I can't tell anyone else, and she understands - Locatis family history has a great deal to do with how we react to things, and she and I are experts. She was my maid of honor in my wedding. Her summer job was supposed to be at the same camp that crushed my spirit the summer I was 16. They didn't hire her - she is sad, but inside, I am cheering. I am also cheering because it means she will be around this coming summer, and I am selfish and want to spend as much time with her as I can. Her fall plans are to go to Walla Walla, my college. Financial aid has to come through before she makes her final plans, though.

Lisa is the younger of my little sisters. She is such a wonderful person, and we are really starting to grow in our friendship. She's 9 years younger than me, and that makes us a little less close than Megan. I think she feels left out sometimes when Meg and I hang out, but sometimes, its ineveitable.
Lisa has a creative talent which could rival mine. She definately relates to me in terms of this. We have had some of the funnest times in stamping classes and putting together wedding stuff just because the two of us thrive on the fun creative jobs. She is also very smart - her grades this year were very good. This summer, she'll be able to take drivers ed. I'm not sure if she will - but its definately an option. Which is cool, since I'll finally have my license by that time, and so ALL THREE of us will have a license!!

Matthew is my youngest brother, currently 12 years old. He's practically my kid, because he was born when I was 12, and I did a seriously big part of his intial parenting. Matthew is most like me out of any of the kids. He has the technical interest to enjoy computers. He enjoys school work more than the girls. His overall spirit is sweet. He is super-giving, and will do things to help you out (sometimes, candy is required bribing, but he's 12!) When I was getting dressed for my wedding, the first thing that made me cry was seeing Matthew. He was all dressed up in his little tux, and looked SO cute and mature, and then it hit me... I'm getting married! I am lucky enough to get to see him almost every day because he comes to work with mom, and I feel lucky by that.

Leonard was my best friend since I was little. Mom says we fought all of the time, but I don't remember fighting with him barely at all. I gave him his first bad haircut. We wanted to have house next to each other. We figured out how to use cards to make our bikes sounds cool together. I even learned the names of all of the basketball teams so I could help him sort cards when he was into that.

But that was a different Leonard than he is now. It makes me almost cry. Every summer when I came home from college, a little less of the Leonard I knew was gone. He has changed so much. His smoking and drinking have given him such a negative attitude. This makes him violent at times, and makes working with him a chore. His drastic mood swings make people not want to talk to him because you never know what will come out of his mouth. I pray that someday, I'll get my friend Leonard back. I pray that its before he hurts himself too badly.