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I am 44 years old.
Since 1983, lets see, I have fallen in love. I have gone on vacations. I have carried children in my body and given birth to them. I have held women's hands as they gave birth to their own children. I have watched people cry, laugh, love and be afraid.
I myself have been broken hearted, more than once.
Yet the joys in my life have far far outweighed those down times.
I remember a day in January as a junior in High School. It had been a snow day but we all were at the High School gym at a wrestling match. I was at the time hanging around with my neighbor Greg. We would go out together to parties or just hang out on his porch and talk.
That night we went to the wrestling match and were pseudo-snuggling in the bleachers with a gang of kids.
I remember going out to the hallway outside the gym together and heading outside to have a smoke. (yes in those days you could smoke on school property at any age!)
As we stood outside a group of girls came up to us and were crying.
Greg knew them better than I since they were in his grade.
They said Rose Marie and Teena were hit by a train and were killed.
At 15 that is joke material.
Huh, who was killed, you mean dead.?
Two girls that were a grade behind were walking along the train tracks with a few other kids and got stuck on a tressel and were killed by a train.
That is the photo at the top of the post.
Rose Marie and Teena. 1983.
I graduates with Teena's older sister and have thought of her frequently through the years.
Wondering what its like to NOT HAVE YOUR SIBLING ANYMORE?
Does she think of her everyday? Does she wonder what her life would have been with her? Her parents, how did they ever survive this?
I have felt fear, but their cannot be anything that could compare to that pain.
Facebook has reconnected me with Linnette. She posted this picture today of her sister and her best friend. on today the 28 YEAR anniversary since the death of her sister.
I thought of her all day today.
I imagined her loss, and felt grateful for the many wonderful years I have had with my siblings.
My boys, my brothers. My framework. They are what make me remember who and what I am.
I am humbly grateful today and everyday for my blessings.

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