Krystal

How My Camaro Was Named ...

Back in the August of 1999 i'd become single again. To occupy myself, a friend and i started going to, what was then known as Western Connection, a country dance/bar in San Dimas, Ca.

They had 2 free lessons every night from 7-8pm and we were going an average 2-3 nites a week. My 2-step was really hurtin'.

In December we'd found that the place was shuting down in January for change of ownership and renivations/remodeling.

We'd come back in Febuary. The place was now called Montana's, and the inside looked great. Lots of new changes, including almost all new waitresses and bartenders. They're new dress code for work is a black cowboy hat, tight white top that reads "Montanas" across the upper chest, and black, tight, pocketless ...spandex-like pants. Oh my god, all the girls that work there look fantastic !

Anyways, ...one of the new girls was named Krystal. I could write 10 pages, front and back, trying to describe how strikingly attractive she was, from head to toe. I never saw her without a smile. I never heard anything negative escape her lips. She was always attentive, and eager to compliment. She was much younger than me, 21, and had a boyfriend, ...but i was still border lined infatuated. We became pretty good friends.

I remember the last night i saw her. It was Friday night. I'd bought a new shirt with a banded collar, black silk and gold buttons. My usual attire is wranglers and a nice printed T-shirt. Anyways, ...all my friends there were telling me how good i looked, but i expected then to do that, they are very supportive that way. What i didnt expect was some of the comments Krystal had made, jokingly she'd told me i was teasing her, and told me she didnt reconize me...etc.

Before i left that night, i asked her if she was working saturday night, ...she told me "yes". I always looked forward to seeing her.

Saturday night i went to the club again...all my other frineds were there, but i hadn't seen Krystal all night, i figured she was stationed to other tables on other side of the club and i just hadn't run into her...i ended up leaving kind of early, ...around 11pm.

I got home, ...ate a Lunchable watching the History Channel and still feeling slightly "fuzzy" from my 24k nightmare drinks. Somewhere around 2am, my pager was going off. Voice mails. I called my pager service to get my messages, it was Janet, one of my dance frineds...she was crying. She was going on and on about someone named Crystal being killed, ...janet was telling me earlier in the week about a dyke girlfriend of hers breaking up with her lover and stuff, but i couldnt remember the name of her friend and i figured that was who she was talkin about. I was wicked tired, but love janet as a dear friend and felt i'd better call her right then on her car phone.

Janet picked up on the first ring, she was sobbing. I asked her what or who she was talking about. She repeated "Crystal is dead". I was still thinking this was some friend of hers that i didnt even know. She was going on and on about this that and the other thing for 5-10 minutes, ...about how young she was, about it isnt fair, what a promising future she had, and about how much she knew i cared for her, this last part caught my attention....and i said, "who?", and she repeated "Krystal", and i asked her, "MY Krystal?" (this was a thing between Janet and I alone, Janet knew how much i adored her, and reffered to Krystal as 'mine')...and janet said "yes!, Krystal from Montana's!". Minutes passed and I could not breathe. Somehow, after a few moments, i managed to ask, "how?".

It was told to me by Janet, that Friday night, after i'd left and later when she was getting off work, she'd had a couple drinks. 'Cape Cods' were her favorite.. But, it was also very unusual for Krystal to drink at all. I'd personally never seen her drink, the only reason i knew what her favorite was is because i was growing tired of my 24k nightmares, and she told me to try her favorite. Anyways, ...she had climbed into her vehicle (not sure what she drove) and somewhere in San Dimas, drove into the back of a parked semi-truck/trailer. She was killed instantly.

I dont know FOR SURE, if her death was a direct result of drinking and driving, for all i know, she fell asleep behind the wheel. She lived about 45 minutes from San Dimas. I dont know the exact time she left the club, or exactly how much she drank. I think a lot of people just assume, because alcohol was involved, no matter the amount, that it was is with out a doubt, the "reason" for this terrible accident. I do not subscribe to this theory. There could be a hundred reasons how this could have happened, ...and it doesnt matter...all i know is, ...she is gone.

Next to my son Nicholas, ...i love my car which up until then had been nameless. So, i've named my Camaro in remembrence of Krystal. A very beautiful, smart, and outgoing young woman that had the world at her feet, and is now missed by those who knew and loved her.