It's really hard to believe that two years ago today I was sitting in a hospital room. Surrounded by people I'd known all of my life as well as people I'd never met. The room and hall was filled with people. All there for one common reason...Donna.
You see, Donna was my Dad's girlfriend. I always considered her my step mom because she was the only one who could put up with my dad's craziness. She'd stuck with him for over 10 years. She was a huge part of our lives and two years ago today, we all watched as she slipped away. She'd fought the cancer for 4 years and kicked it's butt. But then she had a cough that wouldn't go away and was hospitalized for pneumonia. She fought that for a couple of days. She was too weak to go any further. She passed around 9pm Saturday March 31st, 2007.
Donna loved many things...her birds, bunnies and flowers were just a few. She always made me laugh because she'd send me emails with funny pictures of my dad and the birds eating ice cream. She made my dad so happy. And that's all that mattered to me. She was my half-sister, Ashleigh, best friend. They looked forward to Ashleigh's visits for weeks.
At the memorial service, as I got up to the pulpit to speak, I looked around and saw the pews bursting with people. I remembered something my dad told me at the hospital and felt compiled to share it with everyone before I read my poem. I looked at my dad and said "While we were at the hospital on Saturday, Daddy told me that Donna didn't have many friends so it was nice of everyone to come and visit her like they had." I then said, "I hate to tell you this daddy but you lied...(insert audience chuckle here)...because this room is overflowing with people that loved Donna." I am glad that they laughed because that is what Donna would've wanted. She was always laughing with someone. She made the everyday better for everyone.
I'm closing this memory with the poem that I read at the service. It stays close to my heart and I hope that if you should need to, you will find comfort in it as I have many times.
Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.
