It’s unusual for both il Marito and I to be simultaneously bogged down and overwhelmed. Lately, there hasn’t been much work-life balance. At best, we’re having a work-parent-sleep battle. Ugh.

There’s been a lot of good, productive stuff going on. We’ve painted, redecorated, and dealt with contractor-related shenanigans. But, writing went on the back burner, and I even failed to write about a fantastic little trip we made. Life happens.

But, today is Kate’s birthday.

Kate and I were friends in high school. We drifted apart, as many of us do over time. But, looking back, she was a big part of my adolescence. We lived in the same neighborhood. I drive by her childhood street every time I visit my parents. One of my most memorable childhood vacations was at her uncle’s home in Virginia. We survived high school together. We shared our first job, cashiering at a tiny, local grocery store.

As adults, I loved following her life via Facebook. She had a spunky rescue dog, who seems to kindred spirits with il Cane. She worked with a similar population to me– but did more good. She married her sweetheart. She had a precious little boy about a year ago. She was a beautiful light.

It hurts so much to say “was.”

Kate died in a car accident a week ago. As her grandfather reminded us at her funeral, she will never leave us. Her Facebook page is a heartbreaking testament to how much Good (with a proper capital G) she did. She has indelibly touched everyone who knew her. I still can’t wrap my head around how this happened. I hope that she knew how cherished she was.

I cursed Facebook when its stupid algorithm reminded me that it was Kate’s birthday. But, birthdays should be celebrations. They mark the beginning of our remarkable stories. Birthdays are forever, and that’s pretty cool.

It also happens to be my Dad’s birthday. Really amazing people are born on 11/18. More on that later….

To celebrate these birthdays, Mother Nature buried us in a foot of snow. We all had a snow day. I got to spend extra time with my boys. We worked a little, laughed a lot, and listened to “Alice the Camel” on Spotify tooooooooo many times. An epic drum solo happened. It was a day that Kate would have approved of. It was silly, sweet, and slow.

Today, and everyday, be kind to those around you. Embrace the little moments. Take the long way home. And, please, please, please know that you are loved.