The Pied Piper

Lying beside you
here in the dark
feeling your heartbeat with mines
softly you whisper
you're so sincere
how could our love be so blind?
we sailed along together
we drifted apart
I'm here, you are by my side

So now I come to you
with open arms
nothing to hide
believe what I say
so here I am
with open arms
hoping you'll see
what your love means to me
open arms

Living without you
living alone
this empty house seem so cold
wanting to hold you
wanting you near
how much I wanted you home
but now that you come back
tonight into day
I need you to stay

So now I come to you
with open arms
nothing to hide
believe what I say
so here I am
with open arms
hoping you'll see
what your love means to me
open arms

This song, if you don't already know, is Open Arms.. By the group, Journey.

This song was played last within my earshot on July 31st, 1989. Why do I remember? I remember because it was my sister's funeral it was played at.

Jodi Ellen Piper
Oct. 30, 1971 - July 29, 1989



She was killed in a car accident along with an 8 year old boy she was baby sitting. She was only 17. Jodi graduated from Port Huron High School only a month and a half before where she was part of the Big Red Marching Machine in the display flags.



She was set to start college at Farris State University and planned on becoming a surgen (sp).

She loved God, people, and everything good about the world. She spent her summers making her own money so that my parents didn't have to support her because of how tight money was at our house.

She would help anyone that asked no matter how much of an inconvenience.

After her death, I read a page from her diary about a day that Jodi, myself, my other sister Alison, and my cousin Holly went to the Algonac Pickrel Tournament carnival. I didn't have any money and my sister and cousin ran out fast. Jodi spent a lot of money that day. She wrote that she was rather bummed out that she spent all of her money on us that she was saving for something (I forget what it was), but she had had a great time and it was well worth every penny.

This is the kind of person she was. Kind, caring, forgiving, and everyone's best friend. Including mine.

She took many of my secrets to her grave that no other soul will ever know. She is my best friend. There will never be another person in my life that will ever be like her. And I sincerely hope that when I die, I will be with her once again.

A lot of people could not understand how God could take such a good person. Our theory is that she went to babysit Gregory, who died with her, until the day his parents would be there with him.

God has a plan for everyone. As much as it hurts sometimes, I will never blame him for taking her from my life without notice. I will never lose my faith in God because of her death. I know that he needed her more than we did and that she is in a better place. I know she watches over me and my family to protect us.

Jodi, if Heaven has the internet, I just want you to know that even after 15 years of being without you physically, I know you are still by my side.

I love you,
Chip