Dear Susie,
Today marks 10 years since cancer took you away from us at the way too young age of 43. Even though a lot of time has passed, I’ve been thinking of you a lot lately, and when I do the pain feels so fresh that it could have been yesterday that you died. I’m not sure if you know it, but I have written about you before ( a couple times actually). It helps me remember the details of your life and of your death.
I thought that on this 10 year anniversary that you might like to “get caught up” with what has been happening since you’ve been gone. First of all and most importantly, your daughter Brynne. She is a lovely young woman. She had a rough time at first, and it took her a little time to get everything going her way, but these days she is doing great. She always had a beautiful voice you know, and she has been teaching voice lessons. She has a new car and a new boyfriend! We’ll be seeing her on Saturday when the family gets together for our Christmas celebration. I can’t wait. 
Michael, your husband, died less than a year after you. I was thinking you might not know about it because I’m sure he’s not in the same place you are. I’m sorry that even after all this time I don’t have a lot of forgiveness in my heart for what he put you through while he was alive. You never complained once, but we could see. I know that alcoholism is a disease, and one that you had struggles with too, but my memories of our last few days together, when Lisa and I were trying to ease your suffering, are still tinged with the anger I felt toward Michael who couldn’t stay sober even long enough to say goodbye.
Lowell, Brynne’s dad has also passed on. Lowell loved his daughter with all his heart, as she loved him. This was another one of the challenges that Brynne had to overcome.
Enough of this sad stuff! A lot of good things have happened in the last 10 years. Our baby sister Lisa finally met a wonderful man and got married. Bill is a Marine who served two tours in Iraq, has a background in financial planning, and now owns and runs a Montessori School. Quite a smart and interesting man (and a Harvard grad!). He’s also a runner, which gives him an A+ in my book. The only bad thing is that he took her away to Texas. Texas! And not even somewhere cool like Austin. They live in a suburb of Dallas called Flowermound (yeah, I know). She’s happy though, so that’s all I can ask.
As for your nephews, my sons Nathan and David, they are doing well too. Nathan married Sarah about two years ago, and they had a son Samuel in November of 2012. Yes, I’m a grandma! They’re living in San Diego, where Nathan settled after moving back to California from Nebraska. Samuel is amazing! He is the happiest, cutest, and most photogenic child ever, and I’m not just saying that because I’m his grandma.
David is happy too. He has been with his girlfriend Melissa for quite a while now. After years of building custom furniture he totally changed his career and is now in sales. There’s kind of a learning curve, but he’s getting pretty good at it.
Okay, here’s a good one. Three years ago, Alan found out that he had a son that he’d never known about before! His name is John, and he’d been given up for adoption when Alan was around 18 years old. John and his wife Lisa finally hired a private detective who tracked Alan down. Even better: He has twin eight year old grandsons!
It’s been so wonderful getting to know them. They live in Huntington Beach and actually own a second home in Palm Desert, about 15 minutes from us! We’ll be picking up the boys on Saturday and taking them with us to celebrate Christmas on Saturday. Three grandsons!
And finally, me. It’s a little hard to summarize the last 10 years in a paragraph or two, but I’ll try. Alan and I celebrated our 14th anniversary in October! And yes, I’m still running. We’re still in La Quinta, still have lots of dogs and cats, and I’m still a personal trainer. Hmm, so what’s different? Well, aside from adding the Grandma title, I also started writing. A lot. This blog, a few freelance things. I love it. It has become really important to me.
Probably the most significant change in my life happened when I became a vegetarian in 2007. I figured that if I really loved animals I couldn’t eat them anymore. Fortunately, Alan was, as usual, on the same page so he became a vegetarian too. A few years after that, I took all the animal products out of my life and became a vegan. In case you’re wondering, it is very easy to get enough protein on a plant-based diet.
Well Susie, I just wanted you to know that we are all thinking about you. Ten years seems so long and so short. I remember the last few days of your life so clearly, and I probably always will. Yet it seems to long since I’ve touched you, hugged you, kissed you. I still miss you so much my dear sister. I just wanted you to know that.
Love you <3
No comments today. Please keep my family in your thoughts.
