Live It Big was started because I lost my best friend very unexpectedly.  She was 34 years old and in phenomenal shape and health.  She just went to sleep one night and never woke up. 


Her name was Kelley Frederickson and she was originally from Omaha, NE.  She went to the Naval Academy and became a RIO flying F-14 Tomcats from the USS Carl Vinson.  Her flight name was "Cuffs" because she had decked a girl at a bar one night. 

When Kelley hung up her wings in 2000, she moved to Houston to teach Naval aviation history at Rice University.  I met her because she was my neighbor.  We hit it off and became really close friends.  She didn't stay here long and moved for a brief time to Atlanta to work for Pfizer.

Kelley was approached by Lockhead Martin to help design the (then) new generation of fighter plane, the F-22 Raptor.  She worked with the engineers and the test pilots to design various parts of the weapons and navigation systems and bridge the needs of both the engineers and the pilots.  With that success under her belt, Lockhead decided, at the insistence of the test pilots, that Kelley be moved to the proving grounds at Nellis Airforce Base in Las Vegas to become the person who trained incoming pilots about the aircraft (the real life "Charlie" from Top Gun).

In addition to all of these amazing feats, Kelley was also an elite skydiver.  She began that training in Houston and rose through the ranks to become part of the US's National Championship Women's 4-Way Formation team, FastTraks Blue.  She would have competed at the World Competition that year, 2008, had she not passed away.

But none of that truly defines Kelley Frederickson.  She was one of the most extrodinary women I've ever known or will likely ever know.  She was a true friend, the kind of person who would jump on a plane at a moment's notice because you needed her.  She knew all of my dirty laundry and loved me inspite of it.  She was quick to point out where I had done good things even when all I could see was bad.  She was always supportive and always there.  Her expanse of friends was truly astounding, but not surprising given how she treated me.  

And she was amazing with her family.  In the last year or more of her life, if she wasn't training somewhere on the weekend for skydiving, she flew home to spend time with her ailing father.  She felt like the sacrifice of time and effort was worth it to be able to have as much time with him as possible.  And she DOTED on her nephew, Drake.  She loved that kid and is probably still watching over him today.

In short, I had a great friend once, and I know that she had a hand in shaping who I am today. I fear not having that guidance in the future and truly miss her each and every day.  But I know that she is in good hands and that I will see her again one day.  Until then . . . . . . . 
Miss you dearly, Sweetie! 

Cathy