John and I had English together, with Sandra Harper, I think. Somehow we ended up hanging out a lot around 8th or 9th grade. I sometimes walked along with him while he delivered newspapers up near the Pioneer Home. We had a running joke about Coca Cola and the "New" Coke, which was better. We went separate ways at Prescott High School. But one Christmas Eve (sophomore or junior year, I can't recall), I went outside and there was a 6-pack of "New" Coke near our sidewalk. I knew it was from him. That was the John I knew; thoughtful, smart, generous and funny.