In Memory

This isn’t about Costa Rica. In fact, it is an unfortunate truth that I am currently writing this while in Costa Rica (frankly, it’s an unfortunate truth that I’m writing it at all). However, it is about life. And back on the dreary, gray Seattle day when I started this, that’s what I said this venue was for. So here goes.

I received news this morning that a very dear friend of the family had passed away after a long, difficult battle with cancer. It’s a tough piece of news. I went to my first class today (my first class, here, period) with extremely puffy eyes and a near inability to speak. Unfortunately, it wasn’t because of the language barrier.

She was an amazing woman. She had this amazing sense of humor and an infectious spunkiness that I loved. She was sharp and fun and on top of things. I knew her from years and years in 4H. From years and years of experiences that, unless you’ve shared them, you just don’t really understand. She was a part of the program before I got there and continued to be there after I aged out, ten years later. Though, thanks to my sister’s continued involvement, I still stay in contact.

While at our club winter party, which I attended about a week before I left the country, I noticed she wasn’t there. It was like a great meal missing a key ingredient. Hers is a face and a personality that was always a part of that piece of my life. Now she will be sorely missed.

Today, my heart and thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends. It’s never easy losing someone and there’s rarely anything new to be said. So I won’t try and burden a beautiful memory with words that don’t fit. But she was a beautiful person and she brought such joy to us all that we were blessed to have her in our lives.

Deonne truly made the best better. And I’m so glad to have known her.