Early yesterday morning, a high school classmate and friend of mine passed away in her sleep unexpectedly. I heard about it from my sister, who noticed all of the Facebook statuses saying that she was gone. Later I found out that my mom, who is a 911 dispatcher, took the call from her boyfriend who woke up to find that she had died in the middle of the night.
When you find out that an old friend has died, your stomach sinks. We weren't best friends or anything, but we had some of the same friends and would hang out on the weekends in a group once in a while. The past few years she worked at a bar in my hometown while she was finishing school and pursuing a career in corrections. I 'll always remember seeing her behind the bar, a little blonde with a bright white smile. Even though we had lost touch after high school, she'd always ask how I was and we'd make some small talk before she had to get the next customer their drink. She was so nice to everyone.
Since I found out, I've found myself staring off into space thinking about her and how sad it is that such a vibrant, young, healthy woman could just die in her sleep. I know it happens, but it's never happened to someone I know.
She just turned 26 on November 14 and posted pictures on Facebook of the party bus she rented out to celebrate with her friends. She had just gotten a new dog and posted pictures of that, too. It's weird that the day before she passed she had so much exciting things going on in her life and was on Facebook posting them. The next day, her wall is filled with notes from friends and family who lost someone they loved too soon.
I'm going to go through my old pictures tonight and find the ones I have of her so I can remember how fun and happy she was. The funeral is on Saturday and I think that's when it will all hit me. Seeing all the people I went to high school with mourning the loss of one of us is going to be really hard. I think it will also bring us all together though. Hopefully it can be a celebration of Erin's life and all the good memories we have of her.
Rest in Peace, Erin. You will be missed by many.
2 scribbles.:
I am so sorry to hear this news. I will be thinking of her and her family--and of you.
I was really surprised to hear about her passing. She was such an amazing person. Super nice alllll the time. I didn't know her well, but whenever I saw her, she was super nice. Hard to imagine someone so vibrant not among us anymore.
Post a Comment