Just found this gem of advice in an old email from Lindsay:

"If someone tells you they want to buy you a drink, never, ever, turn them down. They can be 5 years old, short, or just have arrived in beaufort off of a shrimp boat. just take the drink. its free."

(This in the context of her summer in Beaufort, NC.) What a sight Lindsay must have been in a bar full of shimpers! Also hilarious that she ranks "short" up with 5 years old as a deal breaker. She described Beaufort as the ultimate idyll- beach, boats and science.

Big Giraffe, Little Giraffe...

My dearest little brother Rutledge just shared this Petite Lap Giraffe website with me.

http://www.petitelapgiraffe.com/

We agreed that Lindsay would have loved this idea. I'm pretty sure she would have demanded a theoretical little lap giraffe of her own, and possibly found a way to actually engineer one :)

Grace McCalmon, Duke

I'll always remember when I first met Lindsay...well technically, I heard her first and I thought "dear God, WHO is this person in the hallway making so much noise!?!?" Thinking of this moment always makes me laugh because it encapsulates both her and me so perfectly, and although it was a first impression it never changed. That was Lindsay - a giant life force, so full of energy and noise and happiness. You couldn't bring her down. That totally boggled my mind... still does. I knew I'd never met anyone quite like her and I haven't since. I always wished I could let go and be a little bit more like that - big and bold and loud and free. I think that was the most striking thing about Lindsay - she was so free, and that's where the joy came from I think.

Amanda Zwilling

To be honest, lindsay's birthday was always a little stressful for me. As anyone who has ever received a gift from her can attest to, linds was the absolute best gift giver. Ever. She always bought me gifts that were so "me" and so perfect and so personal. So, every birthday, christmas, graduation, etc, was a source of a lot of pressure to buy her a gift that would rival the ones she'd give. Linds would, further, constantly send me links to shopbop items that I "needed" to have. Once, she sent me a link to an absurdly expensive sweater with a skull on the back, and immediately thereafter emailed my mom to apologize for showing me this sweater which she knew I'd be obsessed with, in fear that I'd buy myself a skull sweater present on my mom's credit card. Always looking out.

Lindsay would get stressed over gifts to give, too. Senior year in college she figured out the perfect gift for brandon and brooke- a roomba! If you're not familiar, you must must start watching flipping out on bravo. A roomba is a robot vacuum cleaner that zooms around your room and cleans! Genius! Of course, since it was christmas it became extremely difficult to find a roomba. Who wouldn't have it on their christmas list?! So linds and I googled endlessly trying to find a roomba that would ship in time. We epicly failed. The roomba arrived months and months later. But, I'm suuure brooke and brandon will attest to the fact that their own mini robot was well worth the wait.

A short list of some of the gifts I received from linds:
1. Marc jacobs silly bands- every girl clearly needs some designer rubber bands. Obv I wear them every day
1b. Duke silly bands- duke did not make very durable silly bands, and I'm not sure why they were football themed, but fun
2. A black sweater with a skull on it - not the absurdly expensive one (don't worry billie). If you know me, you can probably surmise that I live in this sweater.
3. A mini silver marc jacobs studded clutch/pouch - shiny and studded. Duh and duh.
4. A subscription to nylon and paper magazines- we both aspired to be their target audience
5. A subscription to nymag- literally the new yorker's bible. I'm sure the countless nymag articles that I sent her were a good hint as to my feelings towards this publication.
6. Baby blue scarf- linds crocheted this scarf for me for my birthday last year. Risky not making it black for me, but she said the color would bring out my eyes. Obviously she was right and I am absolutely obsessed with it.

Linds, what I would do to have been stressed over a birthday present for you this year. Missing you so much

- zwill

Ryan Schwartz

I'll never forget the day I finally met Lindsay Rawot. I say 'finally' because I had been waiting close to 6 months to learn the name of, let alone speak to, the breath-taking 6 foot tall beauty that occasionally graced Zandie's freshman year dorm room while I was there. They were volleyball friends. I was awestruck. We never spoke, were not really ever introduced, but I was hooked...Fast forward to the very first day of sophomore year. I didn't join a frat and had slacked on finding a good housing situation (surprise, surprise) so I was stuck in the boonies of Edens, with a roommate that turned out to be rather crazy (whole different story). Needless to say, I was not too happy about being a 3rd floor resident of Edens 2C, that is until the day we held our first ever dorm meeting...and in walked Lindsay Rawot. Without a hint of exaggeration I can say that one moment changed my life forever. We spent the better half of our sophomore years on that hall and I could not be more grateful for each and every second that we spent in that dingy old building on the far side of campus.

Over the course of that year, there was one thing that came up more often than any other topic (yes, Em, even more frequently than how awesome it is that Sam Seaborn went to Duke) - and that was the ominous-sounding town of Chagrin Falls. The way Lindsay described her hometown was nothing short of idolatry. She absolutely worshipped that place and everybody in it. Coming from a home town that I was not particularly attached to and happy to escape after HS, I struggled to understand Lindsay's undying love for Chagrin. "Oh, well then you MUST come for Blossom" she urged without explanation, as if every town in America shut down their streets on Memorial Day to hold an Americana-filled celebration of small-town simplicity. (On a side note, nobody I have ever met found more beauty in simplicity than Lindsay did. Anybody ever hear her wax poetically about the perfect glass of ice water?) So, in the summer of 2007 I made the unforgettable trip to Northeastern Ohio's crowning jewel: the Blossom Festival of Chagrin Falls.

I have never run for public office, but if I ever do, I will already have first-hand experience with what it feels like to be 'vetted'. I was 'the boyfriend' of a former Blossom Queen, ON BLOSSOM WEEKEND. The whole thing was rather overwhelming for me...from meeting the other 4 of 'the best 5 b*tches in Chagrin' (their term, not mine), to meeting Greg, Kyle and the boys while shotgunning beers at 9 AM, and perhaps most importantly, I had to eat AT LEAST 10 of John's famous pancakes or I just wouldn't last in that town. I put down 11 just to be safe. Throughout the weekend, I continued to be blown away by the way that Lindsay carried herself. She was a fish in water (like NuNu, the fish that Lindsay and I won for Libby's little brother Duncan at the carnival. He sadly died months later but was replaced by a line of New NuNu's - phew!) - this WAS her element and she soaked up every glorious second with the beauty, charisma and grace that we have come to expect of our royalty. All I can say is that I have never in my life been so proud to be on the arm of another individual. I was quite simply the luckiest guy in Chagrin.

They say it takes a village to raise a child and, if that's the case, then I tip my hat to you Chagrin Falls. You raised one hell of a young woman. Thank you to all of Lindsay's family members, friends, teachers, coaches and the like. You should all be incredibly proud of the young woman Lindsay grew to be. As can be seen on this blog, or on Duke's campus and donor drives across America, her enduring spirit lives on.

Long live the Queen.

Leah Grimm

One of my favorite ways to remember Linds is by going through my email archives, reading through every single email chain I have with her. Emails from Linds were always an adventure and 100% guaranteed to make you laugh, smile and be amazed all at the same time, every time. My favorite emails from her though were the ones that were completely random but perfectly exemplified her ability to find the best/most amazing attribute about absolutely anything or anyone - and in turn, you'd find a new appreciation for the same. I always admired this about her. Here is one of my favorites - enjoy :)

Subject: octopus are so cool!!

they are almost as smart as humans! they have a bigger brain than any other marine animal and a more extensive nervous system than any other marine invertebrate! and they can squeeze through a hole the size of a quarter no matter what size they are! because they have no bones. also, octopus in the marine labs aquarium had to be covered and retsrained in their tanks by using astroturf because they kept crawling out at night, crawling on the ground, up into the tank next to theirs, grabbing fish/crabs, and then crawling back into their own tank and feeding. The tanks were latched and bar locked and they still got out!!! by undoing the locks themsleves!!!

THEYRE AMAZING

they also camoflauge better than the american army... watch this video... http://youtube.com/watch?v=o4w12H4cJ0U

lindsay

p.s. obviously im bored shitless studying....

Jenna Berris

Dear Lindsay- Yesterday my mom and I were walking our dogs around the block---our block. I thought of you, your 24th birthday, and the many adventures had on Quartermane Circle. Remember that summer we re-discovered bikes? We dug our old mountain bikes out of our garages, checked the tires and breaks, cleared away the cobwebs and rode around that circle again and again. You would have thought that we had just mastered the art of riding sans training wheels. There we were, two teenagers, only a few years away from driving cars, riding bikes with the enthusiasm of a couple of five-year olds. We rode almost every day that summer. What discipline we had! Thank you for helping me curb boredom during lazy summer days…whether it came in the form of swinging on hammocks, exploring what little wooded area we behind our houses or, of course, riding bikes until we tired. You will always be the girl, the playmate, the friend who lives across the street. And, Linds, not a day goes by that I don’t look out my window and think of you.

Erica Knee, Duke

Every single time I open a fashion magazine I think of Lindsay. Not just because of her impeccable style, but I have a very specific memory from sophomore year that involved us sprawled out on her bed, hungover, paging through fashion magazines, and trying to piece together what exactly we had done the night before. I specifically remember making the comment, "God I hate how these magazines have soo many ads" and Lindsay replying "But that's my favorite part!". Clearly my taste for high fashion hadn't fully evolved, and I didn't realize that the glamorous ads that predominate the pages of Vogue and Elle were just as important as the written pieces in between. This was probably due to the fact that I couldn't come close to affording anything pictured in those ads, but I've come to appreciate them more now (even though I obviously still can't afford it!) I think this day was around the time Lindsay had purchased her Chloe bag -- a gorgeous orange leather bag that I still drool over in my mind. I remember how proud she was that she bought it herself, and it was a true symbol of her hard work and fabulous taste. Whenever I see a Chloe bag, either in one of those magazines or in person, I think of her. I always admired Lindsay's sense of fashion and beautiful clothes and accessories, whether they were from the racks of Forever 21 or off the pages of Vogue, and I hope that one day I can come close to emulating such a degree of class.

Christopher Prandoni

The first time I bonded with my girl Linds was, unsurprisingly, the first time I met her, December of '05. I found myself in alone in a car with her, ah it was to pick up Julian, and we were bumping Steve Wonder's "For once in my life." Instant connection. That song, and really all Stevie, reminds me of her--how lucky am I!

The only thing better than your "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE" acting job was kicking it with Linds that weekend...did we leave your dorm? After that incredibly fun and stupid 24 hours of consuming flavored vodka (gag) I remember being jealous of you. I wasn't enjoying college that much, hadn't found a cool group of people yet, and here you've stumbled upon one of the coolest girls I'd ever met.

Love you and bump this one for me today, I've listened to it a dozen times already: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r92A7ndnZk

Tom Brady, Duke

It’s a weird to try and find the words to describe how much you like someone, how much you’ll miss them, when all my wonderful experiences with her began just the opposite – Hoping she would like me.

Yes, fine, I was at Devine’s. Yes, it was a Tuesday night. And yes, I came upon the long-legged, beautiful soul we’ve all come to know as Lindsay Rawot. On that chilly weekday night in Durham, I was kind of just hoping Lindsay would shoot a single glance my way, let alone talk to me. A passing smile would have done just fine. But what I left with that night was a friend for life.

And while I regret that had to happen at of all places Devine’s (kind of takes the magic out of it, doesn’t it?), I walked away with a vibrant, enthusiastic confidant who I could talk to anything or nothing about. And for me, it was those nothing parts, those nothing talks – the ones where you don’t remember what the hell was so funny but remember just how hard you were laughing – that will stick with me forever.

Mary Rubino, Duke

The first real memory I have of Lindsay is the sound of her voice screaming “HEYYYYYY!!!!” through the walls of Edens 2C. Anyone who lived with us that year will remember this, since it became the standard greeting for all arrivals on the second floor, and to me it serves as a constant reminder of the energy and excitement that she has and will continue to impart to everyone who was lucky enough to know her. From her real-time Jezebel updates on baby giraffes, Prince Harry, Congressional sorority houses and “Catalog Fantasies: The Life Your Life Could Be Like”, to her somewhat shocking ability to get me to play a variety of board games (including one somewhat competitive game of Mall Madness and a Twister session that ended with me on the ground in the fetal position and her standing over me yelling “LEFT FOOT GREEN. NOW”), Linds has always been able to bring a smile to an oftentimes “surly” face. Her head was always overflowing with ideas, some serious, like working as a civil engineer, and some not so serious, like trying to get us to go to the Medieval Times because “it’s like Vegas with dragons.” Some of my best and silliest memories of college are of times with her, and occasionally the pair shown below, and I feel incredibly lucky to have known and loved her. Happy birthday Linds! Miss you, love you, and thinking of you always.

Jen Zwilling, Duke

I first met Lindsay when I was a sophomore in high school. She and Amanda made a last minute decision to fly to New York for the weekend. From her first time at our house she fit in perfectly, and after she found Howie drinking champagne and begging her to taste caviar on a Sunday afternoon, I think she became determined to become part of the family (and included in the nightly emails from our mom). In typical LAR fashion, she succeeded.

I was so excited when I finally got to Duke to introduce all of my friends to Amanda’s friends, especially Linds. “The really tall one” as they referred to her for the first week or two definitely earned me some extra cool points. All of my friends literally idolized her, which Lindsay always thought was kind of funny. Lindsay immediately welcomed my friends and I into her Duke world and as she had even before we really knew each other when I visited Duke in High School was always the first to step in to fill any sisterly role that Amanda wasn’t around for. Lindsay though would always remind me that “this ride/invitation/present/shirt I’m letting you borrow is not from me, its from my friend… who is a boy… because if it was from me, that would be dirty rushing.” One night in particular though, Lindsay went above and beyond fulfilling the “older sister” role. That night, she found some older boys to introduce my roommate and me to.

Lindsay: This is my friend Jen and this is her roommate Kathleen. She watches battle star galactica. You guys should talk. Bye.

Last year when Lindsay stayed in Durham after she graduated, I insisted that we take vegan Durham by storm. The hummus sandwich at mad hatters became a definite staple and then, Twisted Noodles was discovered. Lucky for me, Lindsay moved to a new apartment complex right off of 15-501 conveniently as I was moving into my dorm at UNC. Our adventures soon expanded further than just vegan meals, there were craft store visits, and I did succeed in convincing Lindsay that she was not too cool to hang out in both UNC and Duke dorms even though she had graduated.

Linds- thanks for the cool points, thanks for the adventures, and thanks for somehow still making me smile as I write this.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LINDS. A collection of tributes.

Lindsay was a notorious gift giver. She squelched any fear I may have had that I would cease to be spoiled on my birthday as an adult. There is no need to limit myself to birthdays when recalling the famous generosity of Linds, though they do typically make for historic stories. Friends from out of town surprising me for my birthday freshman year of college? Who better to coordinate than my newly minted best friend. Sophomore year I awoke to a gift basket from Linds and RyGuy- the West Wing, Arrested Development, a Build-A-Bear to slumber with (donned in bathrobe and all), and a universal remote to turn on the TV's "Sleep" function. I learned later that prior to the remote, she had been waiting up at night in our confined dorm room until I fell asleep (after approximately 10 minutes), watching whole episodes alone, getting out of bed, and turning the TV off. It took her almost two years to point out that I would oftentimes start the exact same episode over the next night and replay this entire sequence again. In case there was any doubt, she was an avid West Wing fan by the end of college. She quoted it often, which I merely thought was a sign that I had picked my roommate right.

Nothing tops my junior year birthday- the big 2-1. Ironically, this one went down in Paris where my digits could not have mattered less. And yet it couldn't have been a bigger deal. Somehow I managed to lure the Duke-Euro posse to Rue Seguier (Anne and my "humble" abode). Enter Mary, Ruffin, Grace, and Linds from the US! As she aptly phrased it "I've got a present coming… and it happens to be accompanied by a 6 ft tall blonde." Linds and I spent December 3rd biking through the streets of Paris, perusing all respectable sights to be seen and later picking up some brews to sip on in front of la Tour Eiffel. After an exhausting hour lounging on a bench, we stopped in for some espresso obviously carefully tying up our bikes. Upon our return (l'horreur!), one of our bikes had been stolen. We somehow established that it was mine. No surprise there- civil engineers don't typically muck-up bike locks. I dreaded the 150 euro fine I was sure to receive on my AmEx as it was a birthday ruiner, but somehow it never came. I bragged for months about the "Birthday Miracle of 2k7." I had fooled the system and walked away unscathed. She told me a year later that she, of course, had been charged the almost 200 dollars for my bike that day, but never wanted to tell me. It was my birthday gift. Of course the real gift that year was the 6 ft tall blonde.

This past December, Linds sent me a maroon infinity scarf she had knitted herself when she was sick in her last few months. "Infinity scarves are all the rage", she assured me. And as if that wasn't persuasive enough, she printed a SomeEcard demanding, "You're obliged to love what I made you." I do. It was truly my best birthday gift yet.

Birthdays are one day a year. To be best friends with Linds was to feel like the luckiest person in the world for 365. And as I'm sure all of you know, the things Linds gave us that matter most do not come in boxes. Like her famous sense of generosity. So as Lindsay so definitively taught me to do, I have been thinking non-stop of the things that I can give today, particularly to her family. The best thing I could come up with, are memories.. And though we all agree that great Lindsay stories are easy to come by, all of these are priceless.

Happy birthday to LAR. And thanks to so many of her fans, for sharing anecdotes that we could not possibly know without mastering the meaning of generous.

Sophie Vinograd

I've met a lot of my friends' friends throughout those dizzying 4 years of college. Lindsay is, without a doubt, the acquaintance who stood out above any other. And that's just it-- she became so much more than an acquaintance, I couldn't even question how and why we became friends. She had the warmest energy, the most excited, open-to-life quality about her, and I constantly felt like I was really around someone very special when I spent time with her. She was a beautiful girl with a true zest for life and a happy heart. I feel so lucky to have gotten to stand in her sunshine when she was here, and she leaves a truly wonderful legacy behind to all her amazing family and friends.

Amanda Zwilling, Duke

"As I’m sure the rest of you can agree with, it’s surprisingly difficult to pinpoint specific memories with a best friend. And, it’s even more impossible to eloquently rehash these times. I was lucky enough to meet Lindsay during the first week of freshman year, and even more fortunate to seamlessly form a genuine friendship so early in college and have a real friend to navigate first semester of freshman year with. One of my earliest salient memories with Lindsay,

though, came at the beginning of 2^nd semester after sorority rush didn’t end exactly as we’d planned. Lindsay called me and asked me to come pick her up from the bus stop, and we sat in my car at the edge of campus discussing what to do. Growing up, I was never a spontaneous person. So, when my parents suggested that Lindsay and I drive from campus to the airport and fly home to New York, it was only with Lindsay’s urging and enthusiasm that I agreed to go. Lindsay’s ability to live in the moment and seize opportunities is something that I learned to at least attempt to emulate early on, and something that will certainly stick with me. Lindsay always wanted to pack a bag, drive to the airport, and take the next flight (in the winter, the caveat was “to a hot location”), and I am absolutely determined to do this one day soon. I also plan to go here: http://www.giraffemanor.com/, because I promised Linds I would, even though giraffes peeking in through the windows scares me.

Another lesson that I learned from Lindsay is the cost-benefit ratio of sleep versus brunch. By the middle of sophomore year, we had it down to a science: Sleep until 1:25 PM. Fail at convincing Emily to get out of bed. Run up the tree lined hill from Edens to the Alumni Lot. Arrive at Fosters in time to place our orders at 1:58 PM, before brunch orders end at 2 PM. And, though we were all spiteful that Emily stayed in bed, Lindsay would bring back a bearclaw for her everytime without fail. Lindsay’s thoughtfulness and generosity was boundless.

I could literally go on for pages about the ways that I’ve grown as a result of my friendship with Lindsay, and the countless lessons that I’ve learned from her. One of the most important, though, is to wear gym clothes at all times possible, specifically mesh shorts and an American Apparel tshirt. The logic was that if we were in gym clothes, people would think we were going to the gym, and consequently think we were skinny. Did it work?"

Lindsey Bourne

I always looked up to Lindsay so much as a person. One night a few summers ago my best friend & I and Courtney & Lindsey went downtown in Cleveland for a techno concert. Lindsay brought 'rape whistles' for all the girls to wear to make sure nothing bad happened if we were to get separated. She was one of the most carefree yet responsible people I've ever met. She continues to inspire me every day.

Tillie (Meagan) Lopez

There are many memories with Lindsay but one that I think is a testament to her fun, outgoing, kind, and accepting personality, is Blossom about 4 years ago. Wow, time flies. I brought home my then boyfriend at the time. Lindsay was one of the few people that reached out to him and made him feel comfortable being there. I remember her talking to him whenever she got the chance throughout the weekend and later friending him. On our ride home I remember him bringing her up and saying how nice she was. It seemed so small at the time but looking back on it, it just reminds me how absolutely kind and outgoing Lindsay was. There was something about her that made people feel so comfortable and her sense of humor that made people laugh. Here's to the most amazing, beautiful, kind, woman. Happy Birthday, Lindsay we love and miss you everyday. For kicks here's our rap circa 2002.

"We got 5 hot mamas rappin' on this dis beat, we can't be retained cause we wild not tame. We gonna rap it word for word, name by name. We got Mastah K say hey, We got Linda-Ro say Ho, We got G-Mo you know who she is, We got DJ E scratchin' on the remix then there's M Lizzaro that's me ya know, all 5 got the flow, we're here to go, there ain't no stoppin' us, O NO." haha KSP fo life.

Davis Mersereau, Duke

My nickname for Lindsay was Koala. I have never actually been around a koala in person, but they are the type of unique animal that has the ability to always put a smile on your face and to make you laugh. Furthermore, koalas are always ready for a good hug. I pretty much disregard their general sloth-like behavior when it comes to the comparison. That eucalyptus is trouble!

When I first told Lindsay of the name, I had hoped the reception would be positive, and no doubt it was as koalas were one of her favorite animals. It was of no surprise to me then when Lindsay chose to study abroad in Australia, the land of koalas!

Whenever I see one, I think of her. And it makes me smile. I imagine if I ever am around one, I'll do whatever I can to hold onto it for as long as I can.

Clare Eberle

This is one of my favorite pictures that I have of Lindsay. It’s a weird one, I know; no eyes or smile- but hair, and those legs. I also love it because it brings me back to what just might have been the best day of the best summer, ever.

Lindsay was in New York for the weekend. It was Sunday, and we had spent the night before at a huge, gaudy New York club, where we had danced until the place was literally empty. We were tired and hungover, but feeling a bit like we were on top of the world.

I met Lindsay this day at a pizza parlor for breakfast. In fact, I had a final paper due the next day that I hadn’t started (and wouldn’t until 10pm that night) but at the coaxing of Lindsay, I pushed it way out of my head. We were there to enjoy the day and the city together, and we would.

It also happened to be NY’s Gay Pride Parade, an epic, debaucherous, sweating and glittering dance party in the streets. This was our destination. After our pizza breakfast and some efforts toward hydration, we lazily headed toward the labyrinth of the West Village, where we joined Jen Schwartz and friends in a tiny apartment overlooking the parade route. We sat on a windowsill and drank beers and shouted at dapper passersby.

When the parade passed down the block, we ran downstairs to see the spandex and musculature up close. Lindsay, Ryan and I stood in a crowd of downtown’s finest, a wild and carefree zone. Lindsay gave me a piggy back ride so I could see. We soaked it all in.

Eventually, the day got late and I boarded the subway home, but the lazy glory and unadulterated fun of the day bouyed me as I wrote a paper through the night and has stayed with me ever since. The moral of the story is this: Never pass up your best friend, beers, and a day of possibility- no matter what.

Hanging out with Lindsay always felt to me like hanging out with a much cooler big sister. This was not because she acted like a grown-up. Neither of us did, together. It was because I admired so many things in her and because she, more than anyone I have known, showed me the qualities that I imagine a sister would. A rare sister who will drop everything to have a lot of fun with you.

When I picture Lindsay now, she is turning around from the front seat of her car, rubbing my knee excitedly, and saying “Clare! You’re HERE!!” in a high voice and with an exaggerated grin, like she always used to. I love remembering Lindsay this way. It makes me feel a little of that magic that everyone here has felt around Lindsay: that we all have something special, and she knows where to find it.

Love you forever and always, Linds. I know you will find the glitter wherever you are.

Molly Magnuson

Twin Tower,

Oh my twin tower. Our name for the other that caught fast and stuck like glue. Scribbled in silly middle school notes, yearbooks…the name found its way on to many a wall post( shocker) once the book rolled around. It covered up our insecurities of towering over boys in middle school only to get worse peering down on the seniors as freshman. I went through a bit of a complex starting college without a tall friend to prance the “halls” with. Dramatic but true- with Linds,I never walked alone.

From a few select wall posts below one will get the idea:

Molly Magnuson posted to Lindsay Rawot

HAPPY BDAY WOMAN!

will be seeing u soon obvi. Also, i do not like Kellys comment before about being a Roesing #3, as you knowww we are the Twin Towers. Duh

June 8, 2010 at 3:49pm ·

Lindsay Rawot posted to Molly Magnuson

last night i decided that you complete me. keep up the good work.

November 27, 2008 at 10:39pm

Molly Magnuson posted toLindsay Rawot

hey twin tower...so zak just sent me some redic photos ( from " we think were cool and take stretch hummers downtown....cleveland" )

miss u and thinking about u....calling u this weekend?

November 13, 2008 at 2:36pm ·

Lindsay Rawot posted to Molly Magnuson:

happy birthday twin tower.

speaking of twins, the twin beat me to the punch. guess i cant compete with 15 years of tradition.

i still love you anyways, even if you love my roommate more.

see you soon and i cannot wait for thanksgiving!!!! power house reunion?

November 6, 2006 at 11:56pm

Molly Magnuson posted to Lindsay Rawot

hello my twin! i am coming home friday...get excited its going to be crazy. I know, without you by my side i sometimes feel very towerish too, but together we are unstoppable! haha ill call u when i get home get ready for an out of control weekend! xoxo see you soon!

May 9, 2006 at 11:26am

Lindsay Rawot posted to Molly Magnuson:

WHEN ARE YOU COMING HOME??? without you my height is singularly overpowering the likes of sully and brandon. please come home and be my twin tower.

the powerhouse needs to reunite and start this summer 06 off ASAP.

call me lovely.

May 8, 2006 at 6:36pm

Molly Magnuson posted to Lindsay Rawot:

hey lover! I know you will always be my twin tower, i kinda miss having a tall hottie walk around with me so i dont feel so out of place....hmm

February 6, 2006 at 4:00pm

Lindsay Rawot posted to Molly Magnuson:

bitch, stop pretending like you dont miss me! i want phone calls from you as much as em gets them.haha.

i met kelly and i looooove her but we are THE twin towers forever and ever. cant wait to see you soooo soon! Keep on keeping on, lovely.

February 6, 2006 at 3:38pm

Molly Magnuson posted to Lindsay Rawot

Lindsay you are my TWIN TOWER FOR LIFE! haha i miss you and i am coming to visit u and em ASAP i am soooooo glad u guys like each other haha....have an awesome time at Duke love you!

September 4, 2005 at 7:48pm

Twin Towers we truly were. This shared trait tested the friendship early…it brought us into competition as soon as we entered the 6^th grade. Both new and “towering”, we caught the eye of the coaches. We both tried out for the open goalie position and although I won that little battle, she sure retaliated when she pushed me out in the final cut of 7^th grade volleyball. She pulled off those tight spandex to the effect I could only dream of, so I think things turned out for the best. Not to mention her spike, that ridiculous killer spike.

Six years later I gave up soccer and Linds immediately jumped in to recruit me for the volleyball team our senior year. What could be better…two tall powerhouses up front at the net!? Not quite. Supposedly I had impressed her at a few graduation parties that summer. I repeat, graduation parties, where my skills were put to test by nowhere near regulation height nets. No matter, Linds assumed this height of mine would flow naturally into volleyball. It didn’t.

This will always remind me how much Lindsay truly believed in peoples’ capacity to learn and reach for the unknown. She repeatedly tried to get me on board with constant support and encouragement no matter how short my serve fell at those open gyms. At the end of the day the complete lack of skill kept me from trying out but the experience with Linds is one I will always hold dear.

To run on the theme of height…we both shared a true blue fear of heels. This thought comes full circle when speaking with a mutual friend- Laurel Wessel. Lauren is one of my oldest friends from elementary school in Maryland who ended up studying in Australia with Lindsay during college. Lauren approached me a few months back and told me how much Lindsay loved “that college essay of mine” My immediate thought…WHAT college essay? Lauren explained that Lindsay had shared with her how much she loved this one particular story of mine In short, the essay drew parallels between my shoes and confidence. Freshman year I was in flip flops…(low heel, low confidence) senior year I was in stilletos ( lies, but worked for the alliteration effect).

I look back and think how corny this thought process was. I heard someone got into Princeton writing about pickles and suddenly this turned into me entering Harvard with an essay about shoes. Not the same, especially if I couldn’t carry off the language. I’m glad my college essay remained engrained in someone’s mind, if not UVA’s admission team ( my number one choice…denied). Nevertheless, Lindsay thought it was cool, most likely because it spoke to her. The height complex was something Linds and I always shared- the fear of standing out. I hope Lindsay knows that she certainly stood out- but for all the right reasons. Yes, you could easily spot her out of a crowded room, but one could do this regardless of her height. She shined like the sun everyday. I wish Lindsay knew then but I’m sure she knew deep down in side that she had nothing to hide or shy away from. Her height only brought more beauty to her unwavering spirit.

Seems like this is heading to the direction of switching tenses, so if I may…the rest of this is to Lindsay.

L-

You would be happy to know I rock them in the office. I haven’t quite reached the point where I wear them all that much in public…but for you, and only you, I will work on this. 

In all seriousness though, I will wear these damn heels for you. I will wear them proud in a room full of short and tall men, bars, conference rooms, even rooms with short ceilings… I will wear them the rest of my life and think of you every time I put them on.

I will carry on this height of ours with as much as it will bring me, and ill smile knowing you are watching me- just don’t laugh if I trip up here or there. I will be confident, proud, and thankful for all that God gave me- and I’ll walk tall doing it. I may have been bullshitting a bit in my college essay with the reference to stilettos, but for you, I will honestly try. Once I can afford a pair.

So to you Lindsay I say, Happy Birthday twin. I may live with a twin and an amazing one at that-

( reference wall post #1- Lindsay Rawot posted to Molly Magnuson:

“MOLLLS omg emily ROCKS!!! thanks! hope school is fun....ttyl loves! call us!”

August 26, 2005 at 10:20am )

and I may have those lovely Roesing twin sisters for besties…but you will always be my twin. We never got around to making those t-shirts or hates we spoke about…those Powerhouse ones. I’m pretty sure we thought about ordering Trucker hats when they were all the rage cirqa 2004. I’m glad we didn’t… but I will get you something fancy and awesome and get it to you the next time I’m home. As you said a few years back…I will keep on keeping on, and with you forever on my mind, my lovely twin tower.

Y.O.L.O,

Molls

Trevor Foskett, Duke

When asked what sort of things can solidify a friendship, I doubt many people would cite movie theater popcorn smothered in powdered white cheddar. Yet whenever I think of Lindsay, it always come to mind. And that's one of the things I love most about her - the way she could infuse so much joy and excitement into something so simple as overeating at the movies.

After graduating, none of us really wanted to leave Durham (after all, what a beautiful city!). As our friends had to take off one by one, the activities available to us began to dwindle. Eventually we got to the point where Lindsay, Emily, and I were going to see multiple movies per week. And that's when we discovered that the theater had all sorts of new toppings that you could put on your popcorn. We instantly fell in love with the white cheddar. We didn't even really want to see the movies that badly; it was the cheddar that kept us coming back for more.

But there was a problem. When putting the cheese on, it would really only penetrate the first inch or so of the popcorn, leaving the rest of the extra large tub utterly cheeseless. So we devised a solution: we began bringing extra large zip lock bags into the theater, into which we would dump the popcorn and cheese to achieve maximum flavor.

So there we were, the three of us in the front row, me in the middle (Lindsay: oh, so you just want to look really cool sitting between two girls? Me: ...yes... but thanks for calling me out...), sipping firefly out of an extremely small flask and commenting on Ryan Reynolds' muscles. (I didn't participate in that last part...).

For me, that experience was what Lindsay was all about: having the maximum fun possible in any situation, awkwardly calling people out (but never judging), and men with muscly arms.

Love you and miss you Linds.

Anne Rhett, Duke

"As odd as this may sound, some of my very favorite Lindsay stories just happen to be connected by a common thread: namely, her hair…or lack thereof…or the unexpected guests found therin…

It all started with a hairy situation in Durham--the licecapade, as it came to be known. Twas the fall of our senior year, and a particularly peculiar predicament had befallen the typically flawless Miss Rawot: her perfectly poofed mane had been suddenly invaded by a brigade of…that’s right…lice. (Full disclosure: I am still unconvinced that these critters were not a gift from one Emily Roesing. Nothin like a roommate’s love.) I will always remember the strange, giddy evening Lindsay and I spent watching the sunset from her porch at the Belmont as I combed her hair in hot, murderous pursuit of those little guys. Maybe someday I will even forgive Roesing and Rubino for the ruse they pulled when they left on that quick “Rite Aid run,” leaving us stranded as they made multiple recreational pit stops…

Lindsay, of course, made the wait fly by. Throughout the whole business she was beyond nonchalant--like she was just in for her monthly Mani/Pedi/Lice Check. Her attitude in that moment was exactly what I loved and admired so much about her, the spirit that made her the kind of girl you’d want to sit on any porch with, for any amount of time, no matter what the reason. Out there, sitting with her long legs dangling off her plastic picnic table and waving to spectators in the parking lot below, she radiated confidence and optimism at its purest: Whatever. Nit happens.

The great irony, of course, was that the nasty Nix was soon replaced by nastier chemo that stole away Lindsay’s flaxen locks, rendering the possibility of lice impossible. True to form, Lindsay was the first to point out the humor in this. Oh, what we wouldn’t have given, we joked, for her scalp to become a louse house once more.

After treatment, Lindsay began rocking faux fringe: a beautiful brunette wig with bangs that left her looking as stunning as ever. (See: image below, a recreation of a napkin drawn for her in a King Street bar on spring break 2K9.) These luscious locks presented many new ‘do options, but also logistical queries. Whatever would Emily Post do with a wig at a slumber party? How does one go about whipping one’s wig back and forth?

I wasn’t around to see the best of these coif capers unfold, but I love the way Lindsay told it. There she was, in the ickiest of Duke spots--the Shooter’s II bathroom. (For those of you unfamiliar with this particular locale, imagine yourself taking a sauna break from a trip to Satan’s armpit.) Enter: an anonymous undergrad, unknown and over-served.

This young lady took one look at Linds and was totally infuriated. How, she demanded, was Lindsay’s hair SOOOO PERFECT?!?!?! Exasperated with her own frizz, she had to know--how on EARTH did Lindsay manage to keep her locks so sleek and beautiful in such a disgusting environment? How? How? How?

Despite Lindsay’s ladylike insistence that it was far to long a story to divulge, the questioner remained aghast. She simply had to know Lindsay’s secret. So, Lindsay obliged.

Her response?

“I guess I’m just lucky.”

To me this response was just perfect. After everything she had been through---from lice to lymphoma--she was still glowing and effervescent, still garnering complements from complete strangers, still taking them with the grace expected of a debutante and Blossom Queen, and, most impressively, still considering herself utterly lucky.

I feel beyond lucky to have known her.

Thank you, John and Billie for bringing Lindsay into this world.

Thank you, Lindsay for reminding me to smile through all the nit. Porches everywhere are missing you greatly today."

Taylor Field, Duke

When I was abroad, Lindsay was in Australia and finished her program earlier than all the Eurotrippers. Always one for adventure, Linds planned a grand tour of Europe, hopping around visiting friends and seeing the sights. I was lucky enough to have her swing through London. She was, of course, after Australia, tanned and blonde and full of life and excitement and wanted to wander all over the city. We ventured to the mystical "Curry Road" and feasted on Thai food instead because we got overwhelmed by the curry joints. She convinced me to go see Avenue Q, despite my skepticism, and of course, it was hilarious. How could I have doubted her taste? Fall in London is slightly dreary, but Lindsay was raring to go, despite her intercontinental travel. She was always someone who made me want to explore, have fun, and try new things, and the only person who could have gotten me to go to a profane puppet musical. There will never be anyone else like her <3

KelRo

I learned much about Lindsay when she came to stay at our house for a week the summer before Senior Year of college.

1) Lindsay adapts. She took quickly to fitting into our family and daily rituals…waking up before Emily, helping Lynne and Bill out in the kitchen… beating us to the pool in the morning.

2) Lindsay knows music. She showed up with about 5 CDs of music she had just downloaded and burned. She was ecstatic about sharing each song and explaining why she liked the new bands. At the end of the week, she spent time uploading every single CD onto my computer to leave behind. I will never forget Lindsay's obsession with the song "No Sex for Ben" during this visit.

3) Lindsay is the best dinner date. When Emily had to waitress at Old Anglers one night , Lindsay insisted it was the perfect opportunity for the two of us to bond…with Emily as our server no less. We sat at a romantic table next to a fountain and ordered fruity cocktails and steaks. She eats like a Roesing. More importantly, I will never forget her commitment to our separate time together. She was hysterically thrilled that Emily was NOT part of our dinner but rather was clearing our dishes.

4) Can't hide Lindsay's beauty. One night of this visit, we attended a birthday party on a boat. Emily, Lindsay and I discussed for hours who should wear which dress. Of course, the second we arrived at the party, people were approaching and asking Lindsay what company she modelled for. She always got a kick out of this.

5) Lindsay's generosity knows no time limit. Lindsay had just purchased peace sign earrings from Nordstrom on this visit she hadn't even taken them out of the box. I adored them. She lent them to me a few times throughout this week, which comes as no surprise to anyone. However, I WAS surprised when I went to visit Duke 3 months later and Lindsay immediately tosses a little box my way. She had purchased me similar peace sign earrings and had been saving them for my first visit of the year.

While in the scheme of things, this week consisted of business as usual, these little moments made it completely remarkable and unforgettable to me. She had a way of doing that. Happy Birthday LINDS.

Marissa Lubin, Duke

Lindsay always, without fail, could make me smile (without actually trying, of course). And I’m pretty certain I’m not the only one she had this effect on. So at my desk, working hard this afternoon as usual (aka, perusing old emails from Linds), I wasn’t too surprised that I was soon laughing out loud/getting dirty stares from coworkers actually doing their job. Here are a few jems I had to share…

Lindsay, on going green: “I’ve gone off the deep end with Durham involvement and am starting to live green…yesterday at whole foods I hit two all-time new highs: instead of letting them bag it, I just asked the woman to put it all back in the cart, and then i just filled my car up with a bunch of loose groceries. This was great until I got to my apartment and realized 1) my shit was everywhere around the back seat and 2)I had to make like 5 trips up and down just to carry it all.”

Lindsay, on spending the summer at duke…and strip clubs: “alright, so on the flip side durhole has been decent. i hung out a lot with davis and ruffin...and on sunday for davis' bday they convinced me to go to a strip club with them....i think i agreed only because I havent been in a limo in like 4 years… i dont remember much of it other than a stripper thought she knew me and then everyone in the place assumed i was lying and was secretly a stripper. great. “

Lindsay, on her own hair styles: “On this day I dyed my hair blonde. Its short and I look like a little german boy but, hey, i guess thats closer than looking like a 14 yr old hipster with a pale face and bangs.”

Other personal favorites:

- Lindsay as the tallest jockey of all times…Halloween, 2008. That horse stick never stood a chance.

- No words necessary...this picture just makes me so happy and reminds me of my favorite weekend with Linds (sorry Anne, had to do it). Beach week 2009 cannot be topped.

- Any picture of Lindsay with Zwill. Lindsay loved all things...no matter how small.

- A pregame in Lindsay's room sophmore year in which we decided we'd surely look skinnier going out if we did squats right then and there. Totally effective.

Happy Birthday, Linds. Miss you everyday, but at the same time am so grateful to have been able to learn from the very best how to live life to the fullest. Love you.