December 6, 2009 my sister Carmen died.
She was 52 years old.
I will turn 52 years old before this year ends.
I know I am not ready to die.
I had two great Aunts who lived into their 90's.
They were sisters and lived together. I believe between the two of them they had outlived four or five husbands.
There was a time where I thought that would be my sister and I. Two ninety-something-year-old bitties sharing the remaining years of their lives together.
I had planned to write this post for some time now...with words of gratitude and reflection.
Everything changed this week.
Our community suffered a tragic loss.
A violent loss.
A young and promising life loss.
A beautiful family shattered with grief.
A community grieving together.
I cannot see through my own tears to write this.
Today we will begin our goodbyes to Matthew Rairdon.
Matt's senior portraits were one of the first I ever took.
I was more nervous than he was.
He sent me an email afterwards. It simply said
"Thank you for taking my senior photos. You are a very good photographer"
Oh Matthew, thank you so much for the vote of confidence. I'm guessing you now know how much I needed to hear that :)
xoxo
I will forever remember your smile!
