Memories

- BLINK -

September 2005

When my daughter started her first day of school 3 years ago I had gone into the hallway of her classroom to read all the names of the children that were written above the coathangers. I noticed that there were very few boys so I remembered their names.

I knew that in my son's class there would be a new boy, so I had told my son to make that boy feel welcome as he wouldn't have any friends yet.

Later that morning, while we were still waiting on the playground for the bell to ring, a little boy came to sit close to us when I heard his mother call his name. I remembered the name being on one of the coathangers in my daughter's class, so I asked his mom if perhaps he was in the same class as my daughter. He was. She told me that they had recently moved to our town and even though their old house was only in the next town, they felt it would be easier if the kids changed to the school here. It turned out that his big brother was the new boy in my son's class.

Anyhow, that's how I met Ann. We had some things in common and we just clicked and I knew she was someone I could be friends with forever. Unfortunately I didn't get the chance.

- BLINK -

1 year ago today

Ann lost her battle to breast cancer one year ago today. I can hardly believe an entire year has passed. I only got to know her for two years, but I cherish every memory. We saw each other mostly at the school gate where we would have little chats about the kids or our daily life. She loved the fact that I was so creative (as she said she wasn't) and told me from time to time that I should 'do' something with my creativity.

She died during the summer holiday. I already knew that her disease was terminal but I had thought that I would see her again on the first day of school. One day I got an e-mail from her husband saying that Ann's condition had taken a turn for the worse so I decided to call the next day. When I did I heard the terrible news: Ann was dying, and it was a matter of hours. Her husband called me later that day to say that I could still see her if I wanted to. She was at home, surrounded by family and friends and had slipped into a coma.

I promised her that evening that I would 'do' something with my creativity. She passed away the next morning. I hope there is indeed such a thing as heaven so Ann can look down on me today and see that I have kept my promise. Everytime I create something for my Etsy shop, I think of Ann and I wonder whether she would like what I created.

I hope you like this one Ann, I made it especially for you.

You shall not be forgotten,
You will not fade away,
'cuz in my heart forever,
your memory will stay.

I made this Straight from the Heart keychain in Ann's memory and I will be donating 10% of the proceeds to cancer research for each keychain that I sell.

Thinking of you and missing you terribly today.

Love, Tania
xxx