In Memory of...

Twice in recent months I have attended funerals of friends during my monthly trips to Utah. The first was a childhood friend (David P.) who struggle for many years with several addictions. The second one was for Alycia C. who succombed to complications following surgery. A third friend (Devin B. from the DC area) also passed away this winter. I did not know Alycia very well. We met this last summer on a tubing activity down the Potomac River then chatted at a few parties. We shared a few laughs and the usual banter. Many in the DC area are very good friends with her as (so I have learned) she has many best friends. It was very heart warming to see several DC area friends in attendance at her furneral in Kaysville, UT. Stephanie and Melanie reflected on some great memories, the photo montage was nice, and the music was great. Stephanie recited E.E. Cummings poem I Carry Your Heart. The DC Friends sang Israel Kamakawiwo Ole's version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow (complete with ukulele) which was very moving. Save the rest of us a good seat up there. Somewhere over the rainbow Way up high And the dreams that you dreamed of Once in a lullaby ii ii iii Somewhere over the rainbow Blue birds fly And the dreams that you dreamed of Dreams really do come true ooh ooooh Someday I'll wish upon a star Wake up where the clouds are far behind me ee ee eeh Where trouble melts like lemon drops High above the chimney tops thats where you'll find me oh Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly And the dream that you dare to,why, oh why can't I? i iiii Well I see trees of green and Red roses too, I'll watch them bloom for me and you And I think to myself What a wonderful world Well I see skies of blue and I see clouds of white And the brightness of day I like the dark and I think to myself What a wonderful world The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky Are also on the faces of people passing by I see friends shaking hands Saying, "How do you do?" They're really saying, I...I love you I hear babies cry and I watch them grow, They'll learn much more Than we'll know And I think to myself What a wonderful world (w)oohoorld Someday I'll wish upon a star, Wake up where the clouds are far behind me Where trouble melts like lemon drops High above the chimney top that's where you'll find me Oh, Somewhere over the rainbow way up high And the dream that you dare to, why, oh why can't I? I hiii ?