One year without you

Seems like just yesterday 

But also seems like a lifetime 

One year without you 

You entered my life unexpectedly 

A bouquet filled with love and joy 

Our girls brought us together 

Creating a bond no one could destroy 

Your positivity and support 

Meant the world to me 

Parenting alone was a challenge 

You held my hand and let me see

When you moved away 

My heart cried many tears

I wished you could stay 

The distance filled me with fears 

When the monstered entered your world 

He targeted your love for food 

Your team of warriors stood tall

Praying the monster would be screwed 

Throughout your journey 

With the monster by your side 

You adjusted your world 

And boy did you give the monster a ride 

As hard as he tried 

To steal your smile, strength and joy 

You continued to show up 

With dignity as your ploy 

You left way too soon 

But your memories and lessons remain 

Filling up all that knew you 

We will never be the same 

One year without you 

Seems like just yesterday 

But also seems like a lifetime 

One year without you 

Happy birthday in Heaven to the beautiful and dearly missed Julia Tahara.  I can't believe it's been a year since she cross over into the great unknown.   I have not been as communicative as I had hoped with you all this last year as it's been quite full of some great unknowns for our family too, plus moving and stopping/restarting a business in a new town, etc.    I think about her more than you know.  And sometimes, I swear I see her in the corner of my eye and I get the chills.  I sure hope she visits me like that.  

A few years ago she gave me a coffee mug that said, "Today I will do nothing" and has a picture of a sloth on it.  Pipe dream Julia!  lol.  She knew I had a hard time settling down and doing nothing.  Julia was the biggest giver and had such a big heart.  I miss her 20 year friendship, cooking, eating out at new amazing places, truck driver swearing mouth and big warm hugs.  She gave me a gray sweater not all that long ago and I wear it all the time.  It's with me on my trip right now.  She wanted us to cook more Korean food and made a point to come over and teach Star & I how to make homemade gochujang, kimchi, sautéed king mushrooms and "made me" take pictures of some of her favorite sauces that her and the girls loved when I was at your house in Flower Mound.  *BTW, none ever taste as good as she made them because she was an amazing cook!*

Steven, Kimi, Kiyo, Mia & Emi, you are also in my heart on this day, and many others, many more times than you could ever know.  I texted Kimi asking for the girls numbers so I can check in and see how everyone is doing.  Congrats to Kiyo for graduating!   (She's not the last for her 2020 class.   Ms. Star is still working on it..)   I'm curious what comes next for her.  

~LL