Cindy pulled an oversized shoe box from under the bed. To her surprise, she found the VHS camcorder that captured so many precious memories.

She plugged it in, sat crossed-legged on the floor, and hit play. Tears welled up in her eyes. It was a video of Kari, wearing a fun hat and sunglasses, doing a selfie before selfies were even a thing.

With the camera pointed at the mirror, she said, “This is for you, Mom.” The song “Butterfly Kisses” filled the room.

And with a radiant smile, Kari’s voice blended perfectly, surrounding Cindy with love.

She noted the date at the bottom of the video, three days before the tragic accident that took Kari from us.

The music ended. Kari removed her sunglasses and came closer to say, “I love you, Mom.”

#1 I Am a Part of You
(Quatrain)
07/21/2023

I am your silhouette facing you atop the water,
Rippling out in no particular order.
I abide in the decisions you make,
Affecting your life, good or bad course it will take.

I am your shadow to be found,
Always with you atop the ground.
When sun is high, but spirits are not, I become small.
When confidence grows I become tall.

I am in the mirror your reflection,
Your conscience inside for introspection.
I know your thoughts, your joys, your doubts,
But I know not how your life will turn out.

#2 I Wish
(Couplet)
07/21/2023

I wish to avoid stress at all cost,
But sometimes we must accept loss.

I wish family and friends never went away,
That our animals with us could always stay.

I wish we could have snow all year round.
And to preserve out planet’s ground.

I wish fall foliage would always be there,
And I’d like to see myriads of colors everywhere.

I wish I knew for what to wish,
For life is more than food in a dish.

I wish all humans could together get along,
And I wish we all believed in our Creator’s song.