***

there are waterfalls

if autumn is our genesis
we are leaves upon the breeze
some alighting on the water
some carried to the sea

though tarrying in lazy eddies
strained through a fallen tree
whether plunged down tortured, bursting channels
though drifting on the lee

there are waterfalls in many courses
something greater wills this to be
when the passage asks too great a burden
we can sometimes choose to be free

does nature ask then nothing of us
we may thrive or simply be
the route is ours to be determined
er zijn veel paden naar de zee

Jennifer,

I am not good with words whatsoever. It has been many many years. Like others have said, your work ethic was one to remember all these years later. I always knew coming in on day shift that I wouldn’t have to worry about walking into a gong show and was always a pleasure when working afternoons, you coming in with your coffees. When looking at my godawful tattoo, I will always think of you. Hopefully your turtle tattoo looks better than mine all these years later 😂 I know you’re at peace, rest easy. ❤️❤️❤️

It has been so long since we have spoken and I am at a loss for words. I’d like you to know that I have been thinking about you and I am in awe of your courage and bravery. I hope for peace and tranquility for you and whatever adventures you may seek in the great beyond. I am saving the last dance for you. You know the song. Safe travels.

David Meredith

Your courage astounds me. I read somewhere, sometime, that you should try to be the traits that you admire most when you lose someone so I’m going to try to be a braver person to honour you.

I wish I’d had the opportunity to know you better. Your work ethic was inspiring and your dedication to our team and your role was admirable.

I’m truly thankful that you have been given some control back at the end of your journey. I wish you peace and a gentle end to your suffering…although it’s incredibly difficult to say good bye. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

I know we’ve only met a handful of times, but I’ve always really liked you.

When my dad first became involved with and subsequently married Dawn, I had a lot of negative feelings and emotions about the entire situation. I was an angry teenager and I wasn’t as good to Dawn as I should have been. For a while, I think that I liked Dawn’s sisters more than I liked her – you were always good to me. You didn’t have to be. You could have just written me off as Paul’s daughter and decided I wasn’t really a part of the family, but you didn’t.

I remember the year I came to visit for Thanksgiving and one of the desserts was chocolate cake, because someone remembered I didn’t like pie. I don’t remember for sure if it was you, because it was a while ago and I didn’t know you well, but when I asked my dad he said it probably was as you were always in charge of desserts, so I have to assume you had some part in what is one of my most treasured Thanksgiving memories. I know it probably sounds like such a minor thing – just bringing an alternative dessert for a picky kid, why would that be a treasured memory? – but it had such a big impact on me, the fact that someone who barely knew me remembered something like that and cared enough to take that into account the next Thanksgiving.

It’s been heartbreaking to read your updates on Facebook regularly about everything that’s been going on. I have a lot of respect for the way you write about it, between the matter-of-fact and clinical way you discuss what’s going on without fluffing and sugarcoating it, and the fact that you’re strong enough to talk about what’s going on in the first place. I don’t know if that’s something I’d be able to do in your shoes, giving your friends a detailed look inside your life while you’re going through something so difficult. You’re too young to be leaving the world so soon, or in such an awful way. It’s really not fair.

Between these comments I’m seeing up above and my own memories of you, it seems like you’ve touched a lot of lives in a really lovely way, even for those who didn’t know you well. You’re a great person who is going to be deeply missed by a lot of loved ones who love you dearly. I wish you nothing but the best, and I hope that you rest peacefully.