(image + phrases created by me via images from clipart) when tragedy hits, how do you react?
i do apologize for my long abscence + unexpected break.
it's been a whirlwind these past 3 weeks.
with so many events + emotions, i truly have been exhausted.
death, mourning, life, love, celebrations, projects...
this past April 22, 2009, a very dear friend unexpectedly + tragically left this earth
and hopefully has found peace.
i on the otherhand, have been silently grieving.
my inner peace has been shaken up and
i've been trying to pick up the pieces to keep moving forward.
my friend's wake+funeral was not what we expected and we know deep in our hearts that
our dear friend would have wanted it differently.
this recent loss has reawakened my senses.
to re-evaluate my path in life.
to hold my loved ones closely.
to feverishly love my dear ones + to not take life for granted.
please bear with me as i need to write a few words about my dear friend and to give her the final respect she truly deserves...
her name was Valerie Rodriguez. we went to highschool together. she helped throw a bachelorette party for me. she was at my wedding. we would see each other downtown. we would go out + have lunch. she would make you smile a mile long. she always lit up a room. she was always very fashionable. she loved her children. she was full of life. she had a hard life. she enjoyed so many things. she loved life.
she was searching for something. i hope she found it.
about a month ago or so, she remarried. she went to Wisconsin Dells for Spring Break with her new husband. they were coming home + were riding a motorcycle. she was the passenger. it was raining.
she wasn't wearing a helmet. she was thrown off.
she was in a coma. she was taken off life support. she left this earth.
just. like. that.
gone.
(this was taken years ago at my surprise bachelorette party that Val helped coordinate with another dear friend, Kathy and my sis, Bobbie. please excuse the poor quality of the photos and my poor fashion sense back then...yikes!) you just don't know why, how or when life ends.
all you do know is that life is too short.
i still can't believe Val is gone.
i will always miss you, Sweet Val.
hoping you are safe + get a chance to hold my lil' girl, Sinead's hands...
may you rest in peace + hoping you have truly found happiness...
until we meet again...
love you...
xoxo jo ;)
(will try to post as soon as i can of all the things that have been happening + what i've been working on...there's been A LOT...
hope you are all loving life to the fullest!!!)
8 comments:
Jo, I am so sorry to hear about your sudden loss. When people we love leave us it always effects our world, like one less candle is burning in the world. All we can do is pay tribute to them in the way we live our lives and love those around us.
You are in my prayers, friend!
oh jo, i'm so sorry for your loss. i'm keeping you in my thoughts. xo
Dear Jo,
You have been on my mind the past few days especially . . . I, too, have been MIA in the blogosphere, so very much happening in my own life, and I hope to have the chance to catch up with you soon.
Just know that I am thinking of you, and that you are in my heart.
Aww Jo! I truly feel for you! I know that saying I'm thinking of you doesn't take away the feelings of loss but I am.
I truly hope you are alright! You are in my prayers and thoughts.
sniff* sniff* I'm so sorry for your sad heart, Jo... It really sends us reeling when a life so loved is suddenly gone. I pray that she is in heaven watching over you now and that you'll be able to smile again remembering her and how she touched you.
I'm sure she was blessed to have a friend like you.
Hugs!!
Jo, I was so saddened to read your post and know that you are going through such a difficult experience right now. I am so sorry for the loss of your friend and will be praying for you, your family and her family.
I'm so sorry to hear this...my thoughts & prayers dear. Hoping you have a good Mother's day today... ~Peace & joy your way darling*
thank you so very much, sweet ladies for stopping by and leaving such kindness my way...i truly appreciate all of your kind+thoughtful sentiments, prayers, wishes, encouragement + support... you have all made my days brighter and have warmed my heart+soule...you all are such positive forces in my life and i'm so lucky to have you in my life! thank you for helping me move on to brighter days! xoxo jo ;)
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