Posted on Wed, Oct. 20, 2004 San Jose Mercury News
My best friend: Snapshots of Silicon Valley buddies
Katie Kantor and Madeline Schnipper see each other more now despite being at different high schools.
It's pretty scary to move from New Jersey to California when you're a kid.
You're new on the block -- as well as at school -- and making friends can take a while.
``Katie was the first person I met, and we've been friends ever since,'' said Madeline Schnipper, 16. ``One of the first things we did together was when I attempted to give Katie a bike-riding lesson in third grade. It was a pretty pathetic lesson, but it really helped us bond.''
Katie Kantor remembers those early days as well, when the two girls met at Palo Alto's Keys School.
``There was a point where we couldn't stand each other,'' said Katie, who's also 16. ``But by seventh grade, it was as if we had been friends forever.''
They like the same music, share a lot of inside jokes, and love going bowling or to the movies. More often than not, they just hang out, so they can discuss some of those weighty issues facing most teenage girls: hair and boys.
``We were both so disappointed when we found out we were going to different high schools, especially since our schools are rivals, but we've been able to deal with it,'' said Katie.
Both girls were so intent on preserving their friendship that they've actually seen each other more since Katie started class at Palo Alto High and Madeline started her junior year at Gunn High School.
``We're a perfect pair, and I don't know what I'd do without her,'' Madeline said.
-- Linda Goldston
