Today would have been your 56th birthday. Tomorrow marks the anniversary of your death.
I wonder about your life. I know the particulars, but I would like to know more. How many times did you move, since you were the child of an Army officer? Did you get excited each time you moved or were you reluctant? Did you have lots of friends, or were you afraid to get too close to people since you might have to leave them?
What were like in college? Did you study hard or party? I’m betting on the former since you have degrees from two colleges. Finance and technology—you must have been very smart. What kind of jobs did you have that caused you to travel extensively? Was it still exciting to you to travel or was it old hat since you traveled when you were young? What was your favorite place? Did you ever return to any of the places with your husband for a relaxing vacation?
You had such a long marriage—30 years! That says a lot about you. You obviously married the love of your life, but I’m sure there were hard times too. You must have been a loyal, committed person, willing to do whatever it took to keep your marriage alive and intact. I’m sure your husband misses you terribly, even after 5 years. I know that he considered you his soul mate and that he was devastated by your death. Time may have eased the pain a little, but how would he ever “get over” his wife of 30 years? That’s just it—he won’t. I know you were on the 102nd floor and that your husband didn’t receive the message you left on his cell phone telling him you were okay until later. I wonder if he still has that message saved so he can hear your voice just one more time.
I know your life must have touched many, many other people in ways I’ll never know. Friends, family, co-workers, acquaintances, strangers that you met on the street that received a smile or a greeting from you. How many times did you brighten someone else’s day? And how many people missed out on having a better day now that you’re gone?
