Afterglow
I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one, I'd like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done.
I'd like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways, of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days
I'd like the tears of those who grieve to dry before the sun, of happy memories that I leave when life is done.
This was the poem on the mass card for Marciea Adkins. Marci was killed because a 16 year old boy decided to smoke pot, drink until he could barely see and thought it was a really awesome idea to steal a Range Rover and try to escape from the police.
Marciea was a dispatcher for the Chicago Police Department. Her husband is a Chicago Firefighter. The outpouring of love and support at the visitation today was amazing. The line was down the main aisle of the church, down the steps, out the door and down to the corner of the block. The fire department had a truck out front passing out food and beverages to people waiting in the heat to say their goodbyes.
Maureen was so thrilled to see so many coworkers lining up to say their goodbyes to her sister and to give Maureen a hug. She seemed to be holding it all together, until her boyfriend came to help her greet us. Maureen looked over at her sisters casket and said "I can't believe God would take you! Why would he take you?" At this point, she hunched over and sobbed.
As I was in line to pay my respects at the casket, I found it remarkable that Marci's husband was standing there. Not only saying hello to everyone but actually shaking hands, greeting everyone with a smile and even sharing some stores of Marci to each and every person who was there.
He told me that Marci always fought for everyone, always took their weight upon her shoulders. He told me "Now it's my turn to fight for her. My turn to make sure that her voice is heard. He took away my future. I will take away his."
I couldn't respond to that. I can't take away his pain or his grief. All I could do was hug a man I just met and hoped that he knew that in my own way, I would fight for Marci too.
I'd like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways, of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days
I'd like the tears of those who grieve to dry before the sun, of happy memories that I leave when life is done.
This was the poem on the mass card for Marciea Adkins. Marci was killed because a 16 year old boy decided to smoke pot, drink until he could barely see and thought it was a really awesome idea to steal a Range Rover and try to escape from the police.
Marciea was a dispatcher for the Chicago Police Department. Her husband is a Chicago Firefighter. The outpouring of love and support at the visitation today was amazing. The line was down the main aisle of the church, down the steps, out the door and down to the corner of the block. The fire department had a truck out front passing out food and beverages to people waiting in the heat to say their goodbyes.
Maureen was so thrilled to see so many coworkers lining up to say their goodbyes to her sister and to give Maureen a hug. She seemed to be holding it all together, until her boyfriend came to help her greet us. Maureen looked over at her sisters casket and said "I can't believe God would take you! Why would he take you?" At this point, she hunched over and sobbed.
As I was in line to pay my respects at the casket, I found it remarkable that Marci's husband was standing there. Not only saying hello to everyone but actually shaking hands, greeting everyone with a smile and even sharing some stores of Marci to each and every person who was there.
He told me that Marci always fought for everyone, always took their weight upon her shoulders. He told me "Now it's my turn to fight for her. My turn to make sure that her voice is heard. He took away my future. I will take away his."
I couldn't respond to that. I can't take away his pain or his grief. All I could do was hug a man I just met and hoped that he knew that in my own way, I would fight for Marci too.