April 7, 2009
Hi Kari…
Nine years ago today you passed away. I never knew you, but I feel like I do now. I’ve hugged your family and friends – they’re amazing people. Through them I know you were amazing too…
Last Saturday I was at the Iowa Donor Network gala – I love having your gift a little closer to home. I bought more Iowa clothes. I probably have more than most alums and it kinda drives Laura nutz, cuz if I’m not dressed for work, I’m wearing black and gold… Your friends tell me, “She would NOT have been a Hawkeye!!!” But when I put them on I feel safe and warm. And when somebody asks – and somebody always asks – I tell them about you…
Tomorrow, you will have been part of my life for 3,287 days. It’s been so long, but it seems like yesterday. 3,287 days ago you came into my life. About 500 days later I saw your smile for the first time in the letter your family sent to me. But, I’ve felt that smile from that very first day.
I miss you. Thank you for every day.
Love, Lungs & Laura…
I had a wonderful time at the Iowa Donor Network gala – I adore all of the people there – it does feel like my gift is a little closer to home when we're in Iowa. And I did drive Laura nutz… I went to the Hawk Shop, and accidentally went to another shop – I got six different t-shirts, a zip-up hoodie and a baseball cap. And to top that off, I bid on and won two Hawkeye jackets in the silent auction – but those two jackets were donated by Julie and her husband… I gave one of them to another special person at the gala – but I kept the one I liked most… Julie was the Iowa Donor Network person who handled the first anonymous letters between me and Kari’s family – so that jacket will always have a little more meaning than my other Hawkeye wear…
The note above is on an arrangement Deb at Algona Greenhouse created for me and placed on Kari’s grave. It may be under several inches of snow right now – but that’s OK – it snowed nine years ago too… The person it’s addressed to can read it from my heart.
I very often make people cry with some of my posts. Oh – it’s completely intentional… I get very emotional sometimes and like to abuse others with that… But my Jenn and my Melissa did a little role reversal the past two days with their posts and they left me crying. On April 7th, Jenn wrote a post titled April 7, 2009 that was about Jenn & Kari & God & love, written on the anniversary of the day Kari passed… Yesterday, April 8th, Melissa wrote a letter to Kari about me titled 17 Forever, written on the anniversary of the day I received her gift… If you haven’t already – please read them.
