Hi Sis,
It's really hard to believe it's been 20 years since you walked out my front door with a giant smile and said "see you next weekend for a party on the river". We all know now that didn't happen. Instead we spent labor day weekend trying to reconcile the irreconcilable and say good bye to you forever. You were taken from our world far too soon. All week I've been reflecting on all the things I haven't been able to tell you, show you, give you – 20 years is a long time and A LOT has happened. Your memory and your presence are still felt in our family everyday so my sense of it all is that you already know.
There is so much I would tell you, but if I only had 2 minutes this would be the highlight reel:
- Nine months almost to the day after we lost you, your first nephew Logan Christian Geddes was born. I know you really wanted me to name him Logan Barry Geddes :) but if it makes you feel better most of our family calls him Logeybear. You can imagine how much he likes that at 19! He's handsome, smart, funny and he loves his family as much as we love him. His first year of college was a lot like ours….FUN. We will just leave it at that.
- Two years later a tiny preemie with no hair but a TON of fight was born. Your first (and so far only) niece arrived and in true Princess fashion took her first airplane ride the next day. Two frightening weeks in the NICU and she was fully cooked and ready to take home. If I didn't believe in reincarnation before, Kelsie Ann Geddes certainly makes a strong case for it. Beautiful, smart, strong willed and adventurous with a pile of wavy blonde hair. She will graduate from BHS this year, just like we did. Why do I feel compelled to drop everything and do a "GO BULLDOGS!" cheer right now :)
- Our brother Erik has three high spirited and adorable boys! The "Wallace Boys" keep us all on our toes but are so much fun to be around. Andrew is 13 and just started 7th grade, he's quiet and sweet, like Erik. Christian is 11 and probably smarter than all of us – such an amazing soul who understands people better than most adults. Greyson just turned three and is very much "the baby" of the family – completely adorable and destined to be a child actor.
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| You would love "Large Marge" the Party Barge! |
- Our baby brother Brad (SWUMO) is almost 32!! He has a heart as big as anyone, even though he tries to act tough.
- Our mother is an amazing Grandma (I know right?), I don't know what I would have done without her love and support the last twenty years. Trust me, we've had our rocky moments but she is the glue that holds our family together for sure. I can't even imagine what it takes to stay as strong as she has all these years. She has been married for almost 17 years to an AWESOME dude – I think she might keep this one :) You would love him – he's fun, patient, kind and most importantly he LOVES our entire family – warts and all
- You have a boat load (think cruise ship not jet boat) of friends and extended family that still miss you everyday. Every time I go back to Baker someone shares a memory or a thought about you that makes me smile. Jacki has a flower shop, so you routinely get fresh flowers :) Forgive me for not visiting your grave more, it's just not where I feel your spirit since it seems like you are with me all the time.
Christy, you are far too loved to ever be forgotten. You would be 41 this year – but don't worry, you have been forever memorialized at 21. Saying we miss you doesn't even begin to cover it. We were so lucky to have you in our lives and those happy memories will be with us until we see you again.
Love,
Amy
