Fickle Ambrosia: ❤︎ See you on the other side, Liesel

This is my friend Liesel, if you weren't in high school with me you probably don't know who she is. We didn't get to spend time together as adults, though we did get to reconnect. It wasn't enough.

One of her defining characteristics was her eternal love for Ozzy Osbourne. I didn't have much of an opinion on him in high school, but I could see why she thought he was cool. (I have since gotten it together, obviously. Ozzy is eternal.) She wore a black leather jacket and gently towered over most of us. She was never loud, but she wasn't to be silenced. She was fearless, but in a serene way. She wasn't really intimidating, but she was difficult to read and ready with a sharp comment...if you were lucky enough to hear it. Looking back, I realize she, among other things, was a significant influence on my desire not to give a shit what anyone thought of me.

I love and still cherish many whom I was acquainted with, but she was a true friend, which I didn't have many of back then. I don't recall how we met but she'd wait for me to hang out between classes, we'd have sleepovers, we'd spend hours on the phone talking about absolutely nothing until we fell asleep, we made use of the student phone number list when we were bored (not sorry to anyone we called), we shared music and she (of all people!) made fun of my love for Steven Tyler, and we did dumb stuff you're supposed to do as teenagers. She was my person for that time in my life.

The other member of our unlikely motley crew, she knows who she is--we're still connected, was also a constant companion, and we three spent many a day at the creek when we were supposed to be in class. Our symbol was red feet because we would put our feet in the cold creek and they'd turn bright cherry red.

When we did reconnect years after graduation, she still had that giggle, and we'd talk on the phone but she'd tell me about her kids and I'd tell her about whatever boy or work drama was going on. The topics were different, but the feeling was the same. She struggled more than she deserved but she still treated people well. I expect her level of patience and tolerance for snark came into play in her job working with seniors. She experienced teenage me, so that's probably good preparation for that. 😅

Even in my youth, I recognized how important Liesel's loyalty was. I remember vividly, still, one day when I came out of class upstairs in the main building, and she was there waiting for me. I didn't have to ask or hope; we didn't plan, she just knew where I was, and she wanted to spend time with me. It was the first time in a long time that it didn't feel like a struggle to have a friend. That is what I always remembered about her. I could always make her laugh. She would laugh and call me crazy, and I'd laugh and tell her she was crazy, and not once did either of us consider the other should be any different.

She gave me the space to simply be me more than almost anyone I've ever known. There were no expectations. We never had baggage or drama with each other. She didn't care if I was boring or ridiculous. She didn't judge what I liked or didn't like. She was along for the ride, either way. The sillier, the better, really. Though it had been ages since we talked, I'm feeling the void, the space she no longer fills. It's like a wound reopened. I had intended to reach out to her on Facebook a few weeks ago, for reasons I can't remember now, and I forgot or got distracted and never did. I wish we'd been able to spend more time together again. I could have been a better friend along the way but I hope she knew she was always special to me.

I had just started to be able to listen to Ozzy without crying but now we're kinda back to square one there but I'm going to listen for her: https://youtu.be/WCA0LyJ9r2g?si=vWcV7erRkP95x6KD

Love you. See you on the other side.

Learn more about her life here: https://www.altogetherfuneral.com/obituaries/d-21388736/liesel-danielle-riehl-gruse/february-2026