{Death}

My husband asked me the other day, "Do you think it's harder to lose someone so unexpected or do you think it's harder to watch someone you care about slowly pass away?" My instant response was, "Of course it's harder to lose someone when it's unexpected...." But as I've had time to think about it I don't think either way is easier on anyone really. I visit with my Grandparents almost every Friday and I know they are getting older each time I see them and I have to prepare myself for the day that they aren't around but no amount of preparation will make me grieve less.....When that day comes I know it will be such a hard day and I don't look forward to going through that.....

My friend, co-worker & supervisor passed away very unexpected a couple of weeks ago. I'm sure a lot of you are thinking, "Her supervisor? How was that difficult for her? It's not a close family member or friend." BUT she was a friend to me. I have worked very closely with her from day 1 at the courts. I have been here two years and in those two years I've worked daily 10 hours a day four days a week and she was always here with a smile on her face and a good laugh. She was the rock of our court. She stood up for us & often recognized us as people & friends not just employees that she supervised. Her door was always open and your secrets were always safe with her. She was the first to offer anyone her lunch and she would go completely out of her way to make you feel important. She knew when I was overwhelmed & needed a time out (that's what I call them) & she was always at my desk with a $5.00 bill saying, "Here go buy yourself a Beans & Brew & I want a Vanilla Frap with as many shots of expresso as they will allow me to have."

Mitzi & I laughed many, many times together. We both loved Stuart from Mad TV & we were always the laugh of the office when we would reinact the scenes from that show or talk like Napolean Dynamite. We would even stay after hours and just spend time chatting about life or work or anything that came to mind. She was definitely an amazing friend and person in my life. Even now, it's been several weeks and work is a little harder for me. I don't know why...I guess I've never had an actual friend pass away. Mitzi was an obvious reason why I loved and enjoyed coming to work and now I guess that's just gone. But I'm still here, doing my job and trying to understand why great people are taken from us far to soon.....This place definitely isn't the same without Mitzi & to be honest I don't think it ever will be.

Her funeral was amazing. We had 3 different motorcades participate in the funeral procession. WOW! What an amazing sight that was. Mitzi LOVED riding her Harley & Murray City, South Salt Lake & West Valley police motorcade all helped us out in closing intersections & roads so that we could get to the cemetery together. I wish I could have been standing on the roadside with a video camera. It was by far the neatest thing I have ever seen. And all for Mitzi. I know she would have been honored. I'm so glad I got to say goodbye to Mitzi. I have never had to do that but I got the call that she wouldn't make it through the night and I immediately rushed to the hospital to say my goodbyes. I hope she heard every word I spoke. I'm sure the days will get easier around here but for now I sure miss her and think about her everyday....