ljgeoff | To Donna

Our dear friend Donna died yesterday. She caught pneumonia and went septic and died very quickly. We needed some way to process this -- the boys loved Donna and she was so good and kind to them. She loved Denise and Denise loved her back. She was a small bird of a woman with dark skin and snapping black eyes. She had a bit of a southern drawl, especially when she was joshin' you. She loved Christopher. I loved her too.

I had the boys write notes to Donna. They were decorated with hearts and angels and rainbows. I didn't do anything like this when Denise died; I think I was too injured myself. I got the news about Donna while I was at work today, at about 9am. I guess I've been processing it all day. I knew that this would be hard for the boys, that with all the craziness and losses we've had this year, they'd have a hard time understanding what it meant. This is what they wrote:

Seth: I will miss you even though I didn't know you much but you were sweet and kind and cooked for me. I hope you have a good rest in heaven. Say Hello to my Grandma Cyndie Rankinin please.

Trentyn: We will miss you and I love you. And I had a lot of fun with you and you made us really good pancakes. Say hi to my Dad and Aunt Denise and Christopher.

Zary: We will miss you and hug Aunt Denise for me and hug Christopher for my grandma.

We bought flowers and a vase, and went to her house. Her sons were there, along with a wife and toddler. We all hugged and talked about Donna, and about her friendship with Denise. I told them that she was very loved by all of us. They were touched by the notes and said that they'd share them with the rest of the family. Oh my heart.