A Sad Anniversary

Life. It's so amazing. Sometimes we spend so much time being angry or whining about the simple petty things we cannot see the good things whizzing by us in the wheel of time. Today is a day for me to reflect. Reflect upon a friend, who one year ago today, took her own life. Angela Battan was not forgotten, she is still remembered.
Angela and I were not always friends. In kindergarten she pushed me down on the school bus and ripped my tights. She stuck gum in my hair, and once she even flipped off the person behind our school bus who then pulled the bus over and she accused me of doing it. But even in all of this, we became lifelong friends, and she was also my neighbor, one of the handful of kids who lived where I did for a 5 mile radius. As we grew older, our friendship stayed strong. But Angela had her own demons that she battled everyday, and no matter what was done to help her, there was a higher power at work. Even today we may not understand why or how this could happen, but we do remember her.
I have been thinking about how at her funeral last year our old "crew" of friends were reunited. What a horrible circumstance, but yet we were once again brought together. We laughed and shared stories and pictures, we cried, and we spent time together. Unfortunately that again was where that ended. Why do we allow this to happen? Let something that is so precious- true friendship- fall to the wayside? Only to be brought together again by a tragedy? I guess life takes you different places, but I feel as though this is a wrongdoing on all of our parts. The last time I saw Angela, she looked happy. But was she? I spend a lot of time thinking about what I didn't say, and what we don't say to each other to this day. So in light of a sad anniversary, I just want to let my friends know how much I do care, whether we live far apart or close to each other. I have tried to be a better friend, and please know, that no matter the distance or how little we may talk on a normal basis nowadays, I am here for you. If you need me, I will be there. Forever and always.
To Jess, Rob, Jeff, Kelly, and Nick and our glory days of life out in the sticks, may we continue to hold memories of those wonderful childhood days in our hearts. If I could, I'd hug each and everyone of you today, but I can't, at least not physically. Here's to shooting down airplanes, hitting poor Rob in the head, bike rides that never end, prom dresses and trampolines, and a million memories we keep in our hearts.... today Angela Marie Battan, is to you... may you finally be at peace with yourself. We love you.

~D.