Last night, a friend in NYC named Trixie friended me on Facebook. It was then I was prompted to search for my other friend, Janice Trixie Layhadi from Chicago, whom I’ve lost contact with since moving to New York. I figured time and distance naturally grew us apart, and it’d be nice to see what she’s been up to. To my devastation, I learned she passed away five years ago in December 2011.
I’m still searching as to why or how, and I was in bed till 2am looking for answers and coping with the shock of losing such a fun, spirited girl and fellow Illinois alumni.
I remember meeting her at a Chicago Tumblr Meetup in 2008, back when I ran the Indie Rawk Jeffro music blog. Trixie, as well as a few other Windy City bloggers, hit it off almost instantaneously and bonded over music, geeky shit, and generally making fun of the then-burgeoning hipster scene. I asked her to be a contributor to Indie Rawk, and she happily obliged; her taste in music was impeccable, and her bubbly attitude and sense of humor matched with my style of writing.
In the short time I remained in Chicago, we hung out a lot: I visited her apartment in Logan Square, and she and our other fellow Tumblr bloggers would hang out at the bars and restaurants on Damen and Milwaukee avenues. We’d visit our mutual friend and Tumblr blogger, Rico, in Boystown and find ourselves inexplicably at Berlin. Trixie was even there at my going-away party in Chicago, and my subsequent return to the city during my holiday break from grad school.
I thought we lost touch, as friends who move away tend to do, but I’ll always remember her unabashed and silly personality. I’ll remember her ability to make me laugh with her unapologetic humor and an unrestrained demeanor so unlike us other Asians. I’ll remember her kindness and openness to find and make and keep new friends. Rest in peace, Trixie; you were taken away too soon, and I’m sorry I haven’t been there as much as I should have been.
You’ll be missed.