A Letter to Lauren From Mom
October 8, 1999
Dear Lauren,
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I pray you know how very much I love you, as I told you often.
I don't think you know that I was always in awe of you. As in that song "Did you ever know that you're my hero? You're everything I'd like to be," you created an awesome person and I can see now how you were going about carving out your path through life.
You are so courageous, Lauren, following your dream, plotting your course. By keeping your eye on the big picture, you made the details fall into place. Lauren, you learned your lessons well, and then taught me.
Not too long ago, as you were heading out on one of your journeys, I began my litany of "Be careful. Watch out for weirdos. Keep your doors locked." You gave me an exasperated glance and said, "If you're going to worry about every little thing, you'll never go anywhere or do anything."
You took to heart the song "The Rose" that you sang in the chorus at Winchester High, the part that says:
It's the heart, afraid of breaking, that never learns to dance.
It's the dream, afraid of waking, that never takes a chance.
It's the one, who won't be taken, who cannot seem to give.
And the soul, afraid of dying, that never learns to live.
Lauren, you learned to live well, to dream, to dance, to take chances, to love, to laugh, to cry, to sing your song about your life.
You have given me a vision now of how I can carry on without you here. I won't worry about every little thing, I will dream more, take more chances, go down more new roads.
My heart is broken, but your spirit will hold it together, giving me the courage I need to look into the tomorrows ahead.
In your life and now till forever, you are a blessing to me from God.
My precious Lauren, be comforted now in God's arms.
I love you so.
