A story about how friendship comes full circle.

10 years ago while finishing up my degree in Software Engineering at O.I.T (Oregon Institute of Technology); I was hired as a QA Engineer for Cadence Design systems. After a few months I worked my way up to Software Engineer on the installation team. It was here that I became great friends with a couple gals and one of them was Coppi. Coppi is just one of those people that you instantly love. Her personality, looks, charisma... everything draws you to her. Her laughter and smile made my day. When everything was work, work, work... Coppi was there to brighten my day. I think one thing about her that makes everyone LOVE her, is that she thinks no one likes her! I was floored when she told me that! Because I knew every single person LOVED her to death!





There are so many Cadence stories that have to do with Coppi, Me and Cindy. We were the power puff girls. We tortured our boss. From putting a horrible urinal biscuit in his office (I snuck in every morning and wet it with a spray bottle to make it smell extra strong… HI JIM! ) To filling his office with shopping bags and perfume samples, to putting the theme to Batman on his computer so that every time he got an email it played it full blast.. This was so fun when he had a meeting and we emailed him over and over. Again… HI JIM!! Even our Christmas decorating through the hallways during work hours. The list goes on and on. Bushwhackers, phone messages …hahahaha good times! I will write another blog about all the ways we tried to torture Jim, simply because he was a great boss that was so much fun to torture.




I remember one time I got super sick, I could not get a hold of anyone (mainly my husband), and Coppi left work, drove me all the way out to the doctor that was an hour away. She just is that way. She would give anything to help anyone. Coppi is in so many of my memories. When the planes hit the twin towers, Coppi called my desk ( I worked earlier hours). We went to the Britney spears concert, scrapbooked for hours, I layed out and swam at her pool while she sat under an umbrella fully dressed in a sweater and long pants.




A year passed and in 2003 is when I think the economy started to fall. We all sat by and watched as one by one our jobs were shipped overseas to India. Our team was the last to go, because we did after all write the install. I am not bashing outsourcing or Cadence or anything like that… that is a completely different story.




Coppi and I kept in touch. Through the years she always used to tell me I reminded her of her friend Devon. I am pretty sarcastic, and blunt. I am not for everyone that is for sure. I come across rougher than I am. I am actually a softy, but I don’t hold my tongue well and sarcasm is my thing. It is how I cope. So there I went all the time, saying something that probably wasn’t politically correct, Coppi would just laugh and say “Christi! You remind me so much of my friend Devon!”






After acquiring the love of my life; Peanut, a small, long haired Chihuahua, I embarked on a new venture. I had taken my little peanut to the vet. At the time she was only 2lbs and she shook all the time. The vet said these dogs that originated in Mexico really did need a second coat to help keep them warm. So I started looking for something small enough to fit her. Oh I found a few, but they were all over $50. For clothing the size of a hankercheif? I started sewing. While I knew I could just buy her a coat and be done with it, that stubborn part of me refused to pay that much. My Mom and a few of my friends mentioned that the coats were so cute, I should sell them. That was the beginning of Pure Country Pet Boutique. Where everything we make is under $20. Bringing quality affordable dog clothes to normal Americans. The business took off and I had the honor of having Coppi come work for me. She was great to have. made my day happy, always gave 110% at work and the best perk was that I got to see my friend.  She would stuff those little doggie clothes in order envelopes and even got an ab workout pressing dog shirts.






This brings us to now. Let’s fast forward to 2003 to 2009. After life’s circumstances played its toll on me and my family, I moved to where my heart called me. The sunshine! Southern California. Carlsbad to be exact. We moved the family and the business, and left all our loved ones in Oregon. I LOVE it here. But I had to leave everyone. My best friend Penny who would throw herself under a buss for me, and vice versa. My Daddy, my other close friends. I really miss my friends. Coppi is in Scappoose, Penny is in Sherwood… My close friends are in Oregon and while I knew I was where I needed to be, I really really miss my friends. While nothing fills the void of them, it would be really nice to have a girlfriend here. I have met many great gals. Gone to coffee, sat in the stands during games, even gone to a few homes for parties etc… it isn’t the same if you don’t have someone to talk to about more than the weather… Then the email came in. It was from Coppi.




Turns out she wanted to tell me that her friend Devon moved to San Marcos and she was not quite sure how far it was from me. “SHUT UP!” Ok so I already felt like I knew Devon. Since I had been called Devon for years. I live in Carlsbad, but my kids go to San Marcos High school. San Marco’s is at most 5 minutes from me (more like 3 minutes). Then I was told Devon had a son that was a senior at San Marcos. Turns out our kids were already friends! So I told Coppi “Can you please ask her if she is wanting to meet new friends?” This is how it started.




2 weeks ago I met Devon for coffee at starbucks. It is almost how it begins and how it ends… or continues. Devon is a breath of fresh air for me. A sister who I can call and ask for support or just say “I NEED GIRL TIME!” When I usually meet new people I have such a front. Like you gotta be someone else first, before you open up and share who you are. I think the Lord above was looking out for both of us. We are in the same spot in life. Have the same beliefs and both just looking for a friend to share with. Girls need girlfriends. I want to make it clear that nothing and no one ever replaces your loved ones. Your close friends. However I do believe God leaves certain spots in your heart open for new friends. Thank you Lord for my new friend Devon! Thank you Coppi for having enough trust in both Devon and I to introduce us without feeling threatened of our friendship with you. Thank you thank you. I know Devon will be a part of my life. I love her children, her family and I finally understand why for years coppi would say “Dev… I mean Christi!” Yeah, we are pretty close as far as personality, sarcasm, bluntness, that is the beauty of it.






I miss all of you in Oregon. All of you have your spots in my heart. There is no “replacing” here. I am just thankful to have met a girlfriend here that is eager to meet all of you and understands what it is like to miss a friend, or a family member. Moving to a new state can be scary and after living here over a year, I was beginning to wonder if I would be friends with anyone outside my daughters girlfriends and basketball team.






Thank you Devon for being you 100% of the time, and understanding what it is like to miss a loved one. Thank you Coppi for thinking I hated you at first and then building a lifelong friendship that is trusting enough to say “here is my best friend Devon, I hope you like her”. I love you Cop. 10 years now, I have known you for almost 10 full years! Some day you will live in Cali. I just know it! My secret plan is to get all of you here some day. Penny already is on to my scheme.