Hallmark is a rather intense education. They take you on the first day and toss you into a frying pan with 200+ other students. Add to this fact that I was an adult student, mom to young children who would be going into daycare for the first time in their lives, we gave up our home that we worked so hard for, moved away from family and friends into a 900 square foot apartment in the ghetto.
On my first day of school, I met a breath of fresh air. After an intense morning of “what did I get myself into?”, I went up to the lounge for lunch. I joined a table of ladies, one of whom, was Nancy. She was so warm and welcoming to me, she had a beautiful smile that she used frequently. The first day of school started what was to become a daily occurrence for me - lunch with Nancy. Throughout Hallmark, I worked frequently with Nancy - we spent a lot of time in computer lab together! I’ve stayed in touch with Nancy since I graduated - she’s always been a huge source of encouragement to me. She was just that way - her glass was always half full.
I received the heartbreaking news yesterday that my friend has passed away. She had two daughters and I grieve for them. I immediately went through my portraits from school and found many that I had taken of Nancy. I am going to send them all to her daughter’s. I want them to have beautiful portraits of such a beautiful person. Many of my classmates are doing the same thing.
It is another reminder to me of how precious life is - and of how it is never ending. While I may not be able to physically hug the people I have lost this year, I can look at their photographs and let them live on in my heart and memories. Their photographs are now priceless.
I will miss you my friend - you touched my heart.
