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Meryl's memorial was today...i gave a speech. I may post it i dont know yet. but i think i should now that i think about it..because a speaker today made a brillant comment. "i am sorry for those who knew meryl, however i feel most sorry for those who never met her because they never got the opportunity to meet such an amazing young woman" but the service was perfect. just the way she would have wanted it. i know she is in heaven now and that thought comforts me. i feel like my faith has been rejuvinated. i loved her so much. and i saw an old friend, Laura, who was an Onaway Alum. and it felt soo good when we say each other and just cried. Meryl, Miss Laura, and I all share such a special thing, the Onaway spirit, and there's something about that spirit that makes me who i am today and something about that spirit that meryl embodies, so i know she will always live on.
As I stand up here and address all of you this morning I still am in a state of shock from the tragic events of the past week. However, I believe it is important to celebrate the spirit that defines Meryl and embrace her life in our hearts.
I remember the first time I met Meryl, we were at the National Charity League's Philanthropy Orientation Trip when we began to chat. It did not take long until we realized that we were both attending the same summer camp that summer. Meryl had attended the camp, Camp Onaway, for several years and it was my first time. I was extremely nervous and scared to be across the country for seven weeks. She made me feel so much better and told me all of the different things to pack and what it would be like. Her helpful and genuinely caring persona not only helped me feel comforted about going away, but also left a lasting impression in my mind.
We spent two unforgettable summers at Onaway. We sailed across the lake and goofed around like the silly teenage girls we are when the boys' camp would sail by. We went on a canoeing trip and hiked up Mount Washington in the wind, rain, and hail in the middle of July. We decorated our faces with icing on the coveted “Cake Night.” We were in the Parent's Weekend Play together, along with tons of other activities. Her presence at Onaway made the camp a better place, her smile, her laugh, her graceful dancing enriched everyone's summer. Meryl was the reason the campers, especially me, loved Onaway.
Another memory that sticks out in my mind was the time I took Meryl home from school. It was one of the days of the ferocious rain-storms and she needed a ride so I took her back to my house until her dad could pick her up. We were eating some snacks and talking about this and that when suddenly the wind picked up and slammed one of my doors shut. We both screamed and got really freaked out. It reminded us of the East Coast Onaway summers when a huge crack of lighting accompanied by a loud boom of thunder would roar through the boathouse. We later laughed at each other because we were so scared of nothing but the wind.
However, the real core of Meryl's character came out when she fell ill seven weeks ago. Her body may have been weak, but her optimistic spirit was strong. In a time where it is so easy to just let the uncontrollable take over, Meryl showed no fear and stood tall and proud. I remember visiting her on Sundays and being awestruck by the awesome, powerful will and determination Meryl embodied. She never seemed to let any of the physical pain and weakness bring down her positive spirit and fun loving attitude. During the week I would look forward to my visits. I would count down the days until I could see her bright smile again. When we talked I would forget about all of the stresses and worries of life and just sit back and admire Meryl's upbeat attitude while enjoying the company of an awesome friend. One night she told me she loved it when I visited because it made her feel as if she wasn't sick at all. I never got the chance to tell her that I loved to visit her because being in her presence was truly an honor. I have never met anyone who showed so much strength against a powerful monster. I look up to her for her display of such remarkable spirit. Although the Lord had other plans for Meryl, her courage, strength, and optimism proved that she overcame the obstacle, regardless.
These are some of the countless ways Meryl will be remembered. Her uplifting smile and contagious laugh. Her graceful dancing and great style. Her compassion for others. Her drive and determination. Her positive atitude and self confidence. All of these things and so much more are the legacy which Meryl has left for us.
I believe there are two types of people in the world; the kind of person who enters and exits our lives and leaves a short-lived impression, and the kind of person who walks into one's life and leaves an everlasting handprint in his or her heart and Meryl was is and forever shall be that person. Whether she is a family member, close friend, school buddy, or someone you briefly meet; her contagious smile, strong spirit, loving and caring heart, and beautiful face will forever be imprinted apon your soul.
Meryl your handprint is forever left on us, your spirit will live on forever in each of our hearts. And girl, I know that you are dancing free and singing like nobody's watching among the stars above us. Every twinkle is like the shine in your eyes, lovingly looking down apon us and looking out for us just as you has always done. I love you Meryl.
As I stand up here and address all of you this morning I still am in a state of shock from the tragic events of the past week. However, I believe it is important to celebrate the spirit that defines Meryl and embrace her life in our hearts.
I remember the first time I met Meryl, we were at the National Charity League's Philanthropy Orientation Trip when we began to chat. It did not take long until we realized that we were both attending the same summer camp that summer. Meryl had attended the camp, Camp Onaway, for several years and it was my first time. I was extremely nervous and scared to be across the country for seven weeks. She made me feel so much better and told me all of the different things to pack and what it would be like. Her helpful and genuinely caring persona not only helped me feel comforted about going away, but also left a lasting impression in my mind.
We spent two unforgettable summers at Onaway. We sailed across the lake and goofed around like the silly teenage girls we are when the boys' camp would sail by. We went on a canoeing trip and hiked up Mount Washington in the wind, rain, and hail in the middle of July. We decorated our faces with icing on the coveted “Cake Night.” We were in the Parent's Weekend Play together, along with tons of other activities. Her presence at Onaway made the camp a better place, her smile, her laugh, her graceful dancing enriched everyone's summer. Meryl was the reason the campers, especially me, loved Onaway.
Another memory that sticks out in my mind was the time I took Meryl home from school. It was one of the days of the ferocious rain-storms and she needed a ride so I took her back to my house until her dad could pick her up. We were eating some snacks and talking about this and that when suddenly the wind picked up and slammed one of my doors shut. We both screamed and got really freaked out. It reminded us of the East Coast Onaway summers when a huge crack of lighting accompanied by a loud boom of thunder would roar through the boathouse. We later laughed at each other because we were so scared of nothing but the wind.
However, the real core of Meryl's character came out when she fell ill seven weeks ago. Her body may have been weak, but her optimistic spirit was strong. In a time where it is so easy to just let the uncontrollable take over, Meryl showed no fear and stood tall and proud. I remember visiting her on Sundays and being awestruck by the awesome, powerful will and determination Meryl embodied. She never seemed to let any of the physical pain and weakness bring down her positive spirit and fun loving attitude. During the week I would look forward to my visits. I would count down the days until I could see her bright smile again. When we talked I would forget about all of the stresses and worries of life and just sit back and admire Meryl's upbeat attitude while enjoying the company of an awesome friend. One night she told me she loved it when I visited because it made her feel as if she wasn't sick at all. I never got the chance to tell her that I loved to visit her because being in her presence was truly an honor. I have never met anyone who showed so much strength against a powerful monster. I look up to her for her display of such remarkable spirit. Although the Lord had other plans for Meryl, her courage, strength, and optimism proved that she overcame the obstacle, regardless.
These are some of the countless ways Meryl will be remembered. Her uplifting smile and contagious laugh. Her graceful dancing and great style. Her compassion for others. Her drive and determination. Her positive atitude and self confidence. All of these things and so much more are the legacy which Meryl has left for us.
I believe there are two types of people in the world; the kind of person who enters and exits our lives and leaves a short-lived impression, and the kind of person who walks into one's life and leaves an everlasting handprint in his or her heart and Meryl was is and forever shall be that person. Whether she is a family member, close friend, school buddy, or someone you briefly meet; her contagious smile, strong spirit, loving and caring heart, and beautiful face will forever be imprinted apon your soul.
Meryl your handprint is forever left on us, your spirit will live on forever in each of our hearts. And girl, I know that you are dancing free and singing like nobody's watching among the stars above us. Every twinkle is like the shine in your eyes, lovingly looking down apon us and looking out for us just as you has always done. I love you Meryl.