My boyfriend (my husband today) called me and told me that my best friend was killed in a car accident. Since then, this day has not been about wearing green, but about remembering her life, her laughter, and the fun that she brought into my life. Here is my memorial to my best friend forever, Kelly Franklin.

Sixteen years it has been since I have laughed with you and spent time with you. It is almost a lifetime, since it was almost half of my life ago. You were gone much too soon, my friend. Twenty years old is much too soon to leave the earth. You had sooo much to look forward to in your life. My life has changed so much since that Tuesday sixteen years ago. I am now a wife and a mom (One of which I named after you). You would have been such a wonderful “aunt” for my kids. They will never know what fun and joy you could have brought into their lives. Even 16 years later, I have not found someone to replace you. Yes, there are those who come close, but no one else can make me laugh and have fun like you. Maybe it was the time of life that we were in when we were friends, but I am so sure that we would still be friends today. We loved each other so much. It is hard to think about that day that I railed against God for taking you. It was like my heart had been torn out of my chest. It shaped every step that I took from that moment. It was hard to let people in to get to know the real me after that. I can only say that within the last three years have I been able to shed some of that pain and hurt and allow myself to be known as I truly am. You are so loved and so missed here by me, your parents, your sister, your brother, and so many more people who were so touched by your life. You will always be my sister of the heart, KA. I love you. 

Do not stand at my grave and weep

I am not there; I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow,

I am the diamond glints on snow,

I am the sun on ripened grain,

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning’s hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circling flight. 

I am the soft starlight at night. 

Do not stand at my grave and cry, 

I am not there; I did not die.