Emily was a 21 yr. old, true blonde. Not that she was dumb, she was naive... wthout being simple. She was a breeze in the summer of the ordinary. Her perspectives showed thought and idealism. She loved children. She helped with the disabled. She saw them as able, normal... real people with worth. She loved animals. They sensed in her peace and were drawn to her. All were drawn to her. She grieved for her mother privately.She cried in public rarely. She could work a crowd. She understood human nature better than a person many decades older... certainly better than me. She never saw race nor skin color... always gave second chances. She was a party animal. She dressed uniquely. She was petite and got away with clothing faux paux... a style he own. We were once approached at a store by a perfect stranger who asked Em to help her pick out an ensemble for her niece. Several questions posed later and Emily knew the person of the aunt and niece... and picked the perfect outfit! She drove like a bat outta hell. She could cuss like a sailor. She loved poetry and lyrics. She loved her dad. She was the best short-stop I know. She was a natural athlete, but chose the outfield 'cause she wanted the lights to shine on others. She loved to swing at high balls. She could swat the heck out of them if you pitched one her way. She could dance! She could dance! She took ballet for years then went to the soft-ball diamond. She ran the bases on point, with grace. She thought I loved Sarah best. She never knew just how much I cherished her.

I will spend the rest of my days trying to discover and remember all she was... to me... to everyone.