Today, I discovered a college friend of mine passed away, suddenly, of complications from the flu.

I am shocked.

Death from flu is supposed to happen to newborns, the elderly or those with compromised immune systems, not a healthy mom of two young boys.

Or, so I thought.

She and her husband, whom she had dated since her early teens, were my college neighbors.  I took a cruise with her, and two other girlfriends, to Mexico in our senior year.  It was a momentous occasion for me.  The time after an abusive relationship.  A new beginning.  A rebirth.  And she was a part of it.

I haven’t spoken to her in years and yet, it feels like yesterday.

Why is that?

I searched through old photos and realized,

our lifetime is one big story.

And you cannot possibly have the same ending without each and every chapter.

So often, others have wondered why I hang on to letters, photos, and contacts.

And the answer is, because I never want to forget.

Without it, my story would never be the same.

Pam, thank you for the memories. You were an important chapter in my life and you will never be forgotten.

I see you.

Creeping on in, like a child scared of the dark.

You might think I’d be surprised.

But I’ve been expecting you all along.

I saw you first, on my piano teacher’s hands.

And asked, with pride, if my hand would look like that one day, too.

You see, I thought those hands meant experience.

And I desperately wanted that.

So here, I am.

With just a little experience.

And a long way to go.

Turn the page.

Begin again.

Start over.

Try something different.

Or . . .

just keep on, keeping on.

New. Leaf. Parenting.

Every day is a fresh start.

Every. Day.

So start.

Freshy-Fresh.

Happy New Year to You!