Dear Cousins,

We are back home in North Carolina and I have been reflecting on this past weekend. I just wanted to thank all of you again for Saturday. It was a beautiful memorial. Truly fitting to honor such a beautiful person like MarySue. I could feel her smiling (like she always was!) down on all of us that day! I am so happy Don and I were able to spend this time with all of you and the rest of the family whom I have missed so very much. My arms ached the next day from hugging so many people that I haven’t been able to see in such a very long time. It was such a good ache to have! Once again, I have been reminding of how important my family is in my life.

Like I told Betty Ann, I will continue to honor MarySue’s memory for the rest of my life by trying to be more like her. I will try to find the beauty and laughter in every day, especially when there seems like there is no beauty or laughter to be found. I will smile more, laugh more and be thankful for everything I have.

MarySue touched our lives in so many ways. I will always love her for that. And I will always love my family.

Love,

Carol