As we march through this year, several of Andrew's cousins and classmates are having their 40th birthdays. It's bittersweet for me to realize how long Andrew has been gone -- 14 years. I didn't get together and have any kind of a celebration for his would be 40th birthday this year. I just called the girls and talked to them on the phone, and talked to Bill, and then made some chili rellenos because Andrew likes them. I think we're all getting to the point where we don't need to cling to each other quite as desperately or something? I'm not sure what it is. We just don't want to make a big deal about his not being here. I guess it's just easier to acknowledge his absence in private. Either way it's sad.
This past weekend a family was recognized whose daughter was murdered while attending Cal Poly. It took 25 years for the Sheriff's department and the DA's office to piece together the puzzle and finally arrest and later convict the person responsible for her death. The sheriff's department had a rodeo this past weekend which I was part of the committee and the family of this girl and the prosecutors, cold case detective and a podcaster were recognized as honored guests. I got to meet the family and speak with them. It made me tremble inside because I knew their pain even though the loss of our children was under completely different circumstances. The way they persevered and were able to keep their daughter's memory alive is truly awe inspiring. They have to be the strongest people to be able to do that and walk through that pain and celebrate their daughter/sister publicly and privately.
The girls body has never been recovered. The killer has never confessed or given up any information that would lead to her whereabouts. They thought they had the location and they found so much evidence that she had been there, but they did not find her. I think I'm going to call on Andrew to help me remember to pray for this girl and pray for the family and pray that they are able to find her.
I keep Andrew in his urn in the living room and he's with me everyday and I am blessed for that.
