Crying my eyes out

Just got home from a long day at work.  I was surprised by my friend Gia with a really awesome starbucks mermaid mug that she got because it reminded her of me.

Is there anything better than getting a gift for no reason at all??  What a great start to the day.

When I got home, there was a card in the mail from my sorority sister Amber.  I haven't seen Amber since I graduated college almost 20 years ago.  She was one person I sent a card to last week, and she sent me one back.  It was a beautiful card, and she wrote such a beautiful sentiment, thanking me for "sharing my sister with the world."

I never expected anything in return when I started this tribute to Jennifer.  It was my way to remember my sister in a way that positive, every day.  I hadn't expected that this would touch others so deeply.   Not only am I excited that I have made people happy, if only just for a moment in their hectic lives, but it's helped me understand that in the end, the only thing that matters in this world is the positive impact we have on our community and each other.

It's made me want to be kinder to people.  It's made me want to connect more with people.  It's encouraged me to want to do more for others.

And when someone does something as simple as get me a mug or write me a card back, I am so touched because I know I touched them.

So I'm crying my eyes out reading Amber's card, and then I see that I have a package.

My friend Jodi, a talented photographer and artist has recently been cross-stitching some phrases and photographing them... I'm not sure exactly what the significance of the cross-stitching is, or if the art is just how she's feeling on that particular day.  I cross-stitch, too, and I made some comments on her Instagram (check her out... jmim ).

So, guess what Jodi sent me in the mail??  And the tears just keep coming.

I am really bad at keeping in touch, and in my typical Sagittarian way I run off to play with new shiny people instead of staying connected with people I care about in my life.  I wish I had more time and more energy to be connected, because MAN, I know some really amazing people.

The first anniversary of Jennifer's death is right around the corner, and all of you have and will continue to be so instrumental in making me feel like I have effectively done what I set out to do.  To honor Jennifer.

Thank you all so much.