My Elizabeth

 Liz was hit and killed last night, by a drunk driver in Daytona Beach, Florida.  She was taking a walk with Jonathan (her son) and his wife Ashley, and a couple of friends of theirs.  Everyone was walking ahead of her a little...Liz walked slower because her feet always hurt and and also, she probably had her hands on her camera, getting ready to take a shot.  She's a photographer...not really a pro, but she was trying.  I'd be lying if I said I thought she was going to make it, but she was really trying, and that's what matters.  She didn't let the fear of unknowns get in her way.  It was their last night there, and she wanted to take pictures of the stars over the ocean.   At that same time, a man named Shawn Doolan, decided to get into his car, while he was drunk, and drive it.  I don't know where he had been or what led him to where he was going, I just know that he sped down some bridge, hit the toll booth gate at the beach, and struck Liz.  I've read there was no blood on the sand, and they're pretty sure she died instantly; didn't even know what hit her.

 A part of me writes this and still doesn't believe it.  I'm not talking about my Liz.  Not my older sister.  But also, don't get me wrong; I know she's gone.  I know this, but it just doesn't feel real to me yet.  Liz and I used to be really close.  We would do EVERYTHING together.   I'm not sure why we drifted apart, but I have my speculations. They're opinion, not fact, so I'll just keep them to myself.  And it doesn't matter anyway. It was one of those things that I always thought could be fixed.  She and I were just always so busy though.  She stayed really involved in her kids lives.....she was a good Mom like that, and I had my own stuff going on...

And now she's gone.  Here one second.  Gone the next.  That part I can't wrap my mind around.  I always knew life was short, but...like in a "it just goes too fast" sense.  Not literally only 45 years for some people.  She was still so young.  She had so many good years ahead of her.  And she's gone.  Just like that.

I miss her so much.  

November 5, 1968 - June 24, 2014