thoughts of please, thank you and a smile

shared by Jerry Gonzales, her friend from college

10 years! It seems a lifetime ago in some ways, and in others the memories feel like they were lived yesterday.

Today's your 34th Birthday Cyn - you always had such mixed feelings on your birthday. The proximity to Christmas always meant that it was hard for folks to separate their thoughts around Christmas with also taking time to greet you.

It's funny how memories of you ebb and flow throughout a year. The other day I was staring at my digital frame on my dresser and a picture of you popped up - must have been your little reminder to me that your birthday was coming up and that I shouldn't forget.

I'm a different man than I was 10 years ago - I think I'm better with managing the "lost dogs" in my life. I have two little boys that depend on me now and I always try to teach them that the world is a better place with just a please, thank you and a smile - same as you taught all of us.

In my selfish moments, I wish you were here on earth so I could get your advice on how to navigate life - but then I reflect deep inside and somehow the right answer always surfaces.

I hope your birthday party in heaven is amazing today; full of warmth, light, and surrounded by all those other angels.

thoughts of turtle ink

shared by Marlo R. Beall, her sister

Happy 34th Birthday Cyn!

Ten years ago this month, my sisters and I got tattoos in honor of our sister, Cindy. Here are some photos of those tattoos.

They are variations of a turtle, accompanied by Cindy's Heaven Anniversary date (04-02-03), or "Cyn", or both.

Arlene's tattoo, on her lower back:

Marlo's tattoo, on her left shoulder:

Carla's tattoo, on her right hip:

VJ's tattoo, on her upper back:

 

thoughts of building snowmen

shared by Marlo R. Beall, her sister

Over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, I had the chance to watch the movie Frozen... twice. Although I always enjoy a musical, animated movie, I know part of the reason I liked this one so much was because it made me think of Cindy.

First of all, the main characters are sisters (named Elsa and Anna), and the movie has a touching message about sisterly love. There are some really sweet scenes of the sisters as kids, and some very poignant scenes when they're older. Throughout the movie, both sisters are seen with different, braided hairstyles that would make Cindy proud, and that she probably would have tried recreating on herself or on one of us.

One of the sidekick characters is a snowman named Olaf; and I can just picture Cindy making the perfect mini model of him out of clay.

Then there are the songs. We downloaded the soundtrack as soon as we got home and haven't stopped singing yet. Idina Menzel provides the voice for Elsa, so there have undoubtedly already been countless times that Cyn Cyn, Ava and I have belted out lines from the songs. I have images in my head of Cindy singing along to the songs too, just like we did with our favorite songs from Rent.

So I hope you like the movie as much as my girls and I do. And when you find yourself singing along to the songs, please think of it as a little tribute to Cyn... and while you're singing, don't hold back, just let it go.