thoughts of friendly reminders

shared by Marlo R. Beall, her sister

I've written a few times before about little, daily occurrences that remind me of Cindy. I consider them her version of a little wink and smile from heaven, just letting me know that she's watching over me and my family.

A few of these happened over the past couple of weeks that just made me stop and smile. Specifically, I was at church last Sunday, and the style of "Holy Holy" that was sung was our favorite version, when Cindy and I could subtely swing our heads back and forth as the words, "in the nay - hame of the Lord" were sung.

Also last weekend, I happened to catch a late night broadcast of the movie, The Cutting Edge. Then I flipped the channel once it was done, and found Moneyball being played on another channel.

I miss my sister every day. So it's always fun when she sends me little reminders that she misses me too.

thoughts of summer fun

shared by Danny King, her childhood friend

VJ recently reminded me of one awesome summer day that must have been between Cyn's junior and senior year in high school. I'm not sure how we all ended up at my house, but we did. I had the house to myself for some reason and what does every high school kid naturally do with an empty house? House party of course!

I really wish I did remember, but I don't remember where we were coming from, but we all ended up in the pool in the early afternoon. Pool basketball, splashing, yelling, laughing, snacking on chips and salsa. Good times. It was a wild time in the pool and as high school kids reliably do, we were all making a mess but having good wholesome fun.

I remember when the afternoon was winding down and we were all getting hungry and heading to Sweet Tomatoes or Lyon's or something like that, Cyn got out of the pool and without a word about it, she was helping clean up the mess of towels and everything else that the group of ~10 of us had left all around. I think I remember her coming to me with a bunch of towels in her arms and asking where to put them. I hadn't even noticed that she had gathered them, but that was just how she was.

Always the matriarch of our groups and of our class. Always the caretaker. Always the leader. Always thinking a step ahead for everyone else's benefit. She was there having her fun with the group, but when it was time to go, before thinking of leaving, she was the only one who made sure everything was taken care of before we all left. Just thinking of her warmth and kindness makes me smile. I'm so thankful for our many years of friendship.

When I think about it, I'm pulled so hard in both directions for being upset and being so happy that I had the time I did, with her in junior high through college. So, I make a choice. I choose to hold on to the joy that her friendship brings me. I choose to be really REALLY happy that she colored my life with her shining example of being a warm and caring person, and to this day, she still gives me something to strive for. I am so thankful for all of the parts of Cyn that stay with me.