Different kind of Thanksgiving

The night before Thanksgiving, Aunt Karen's mom, Katey, passed away. We found out about it an hour after it happened, and when I called Uncle Jim and Aunt Karen, they were still at the hospital. What terrible news! All three of us were in shock. But we were also worried about Karen, Jim, and of course Frank, who was very close with his wife and have been hurt deeply loosing Katey. At that moment, we wished to be nowhere else but in Chicago, with them.

Katey and Frank were the first family I met when Rob and I arrived to the States (from Okinawa). In March, Mom, Aunt Karen, and Uncle Jim picked us at the airport in Chicago and took us to their house. Frank and Katey waited for us with open arms, love and warmth. We just clicked from the very first moment we saw each other. Katey, even though already sick then, didn't let her illness get in the way and kept up with conversation and visited with us until we left. I was amazed by her from the very first moment. What a beautiful person! So kind and loving, sweet and gentle, and a true lady. Like Aunt Karen said to me yesterday, Yes--Mom surely loved her red lipstick.

You will be missed by all of us, Katey. You and Frank raised a wonderful, kind, beautiful, and good hearted daughter. And you have been such a good mom to Uncle Jim. You can be proud of yourself as parents--you did an awesome job.

This Thanksgiving will always have a different meaning to us from now on. It will be twice as important. To me, Thanksgiving will always carry the memory of sweet Katey, and it will be a pleasant and joyful memory. Katey will be celebrated on a big day. As she should be. And in honor of Katey, I will always make sure to lit a candle for her, with a smile on my face, because she was an angel.

This picture is from March 06, when we first got to the US, and came to see Aunt Karen, Uncle Jim, Frank and Katey. There she is, smiling and happy! :)

We love you Katey, and will miss you!