Rest now Kim, thank you for everything

My friend passed away this morning after a very long week, it's because her fellow classmates at the Career Academy moved so fast that we've all had the time to say goodbye to her, and I'm incredibly grateful to all of them for that.

Not that's easy to say goodbye, it's never easy.

Kim and I met in 1994, and she just knew we were going to be best friends. I was pretty baffled by why she was being so friendly and persistent. But she was right.

We've done a lot of very foolish things together, people do when they are growing. We've shared tears and laughter, we've grown together and I know that I'm a better person for having known her.

She took life in great big bites. Where I tend to live too much in my head, planning out projects and reading, she was out there grabbing life in both hands, trying new things, going places, and charming people where ever she went. That combination of sincerity and enthusiasm that too many people outgrow. She was the kindest, most patient, and caring person I've ever met. If she could help, she did. Every time.

She's been my biggest cheerleader through those years. Encouraging me to draw my cartoons when I was doing that, to paint, to learn. She was constantly learning. Always new things she wanted to know, taking classes on a regular basis.

It's really hard to imagine not being able to pick up the phone to call her, to not leave and get voice mails that just say "I was thinking of you. I love you. Call." and knowing that we would talk soon about everything going on in our lives.

Love should, if it's real, help you to become a better you. Help you reach heights in goodness, love and understanding that you might not be able to reach on your own. You reach them for love, or because love lifts you to them.

After a week on life support, her husband made the very hard decision to take her off. She went on breathing for sometime after that. She was surrounded by people who loved her. I said goodbye that day then came back the next day after I had the tears under control to read to her for a bit. She always knew we would be friends until the end. The end came much sooner than anyone could have expected.

For that last week, she had her husband, family and friends around her constantly. She's touched so many lives deeply.

Please, say a prayer or send a good wish for her husband and friends. This is a very hard time for him, for all of us.

I'm beyond grateful for her friendship through the years. It's been a blessing and an honor to have been in her life.

Rest now Kim, thank you for everything. You'll be in my heart always until we meet again.