Today is August 9th, my sister Kelly’s birthday. She would be 34 today. Kelly died when she was 11. Over the years, the grief has dulled. Instead of feeling sorry for myself because she is gone, I regret that she never got to grow up. Kelly was smart, kind, creative, and beautiful. She would have been an amazing woman. It makes me sad that she never got to go away to college, never got to date, never got to be a mom or aunt, never got to fall in love and get married. I always take a moment to think of her during the big events in my life – wedding, graduation, building a family. I like to think she shares those experiences with me in some way.

The world is a little less bright without her in it. Happy birthday Kelly.