Kerri and I were classmates in grad school at UCSD. She was the brilliant immunologist who aced every class and earned her PhD in molecular biology in less time than it takes most people to get a bachelor’s. I was … well, let’s just say I was the exact opposite of that. (Hey, someone has to occupy the bottom end of that bell curve.)

Kerri and I became good friends, but after she graduated, she moved across the country, and we lost touch. It wasn’t until 2009 that I found out she had moved back to San Diego years before. Over the next six years, we messaged each other sporadically, and while we both talked about meeting up for a drink sometime to catch up, neither of us really made much of an effort to follow through.

I think the last time I saw Kerri was maybe around 2000. And honestly, I hadn’t thought much about what she’d been up to lately … until I found out two days ago that she passed away last weekend.

I guess that means we won’t be meeting up for a drink again. And that’s just sad … especially with how I feel about drinking.

Rest in peace, Kerri. Despite what my facial expressions may have indicated in the photos, I always had fun doing shots with you.