The Lump in My Throat

Happy birthday, Elaine - on what would’ve been your 33rd, you deserves to have the biggest party. I bet you’re smiling with the knowledge that your and K1’s office is throwing you a huge one - complete with an “authentic Italian birthday cake” special ordered by your dad.

I wish you were here.

I miss you so much.

Loss - Theirs, Ours, Mine

The reasons for “loss” are confusing and elusive to me. The loss of [the life of] anyone we love - young or old - is never something any of us wish to experience, yet death is the only inevitable part of life.

Inevitable, but seldom welcomed.

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My Introduction to Elaine

Losing Elaine has been a gut-wrenching experience for the past 3 weeks.  I’ve written a lot about it, even though writing about the personal lives (or in this case, death) of my family/friends is usually off my acceptable blog topic list.  But, I need to share this story… and include it as one of my ways to remember her.

……….

The first time I met Elaine was a little over 7 years ago.  She’d already known K1 for about 2 years prior to that, so they had a very established friendship.

When K1 brought me over to her apartment the first time it was almost like being introduced to someone’s parents… because I knew how much K1 respected Elaine’s opinion.

Instead of feeling the pressure of meeting her for the first time, something quite comical happened that lightened the mood.

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I Love You Always, Elaine

This was the poem that was read at both of Elaine’s memorials.  Today Elaine’s mom asked me to put the poem’s words on her website - I went a step further and made this graphic… with Elaine’s own signature (the way she signed every card she ever gave me, and no doubt the way she signed ones she gave everyone else.)  I hope the personalization of it will mean even more to those who are remembering Elaine.

Anxious

I’m full of anxiety. When I woke this morning I had the tell-tale signs of panic - about what, I don’t know.

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