"May Angels Lead You In..."

The head baker at my work died today.

It seems unreal. Last night she called in to work because she wasn't feeling well, this morning it was too late to do anything for her. She had an aneurysm that ruptured. I saw her Friday morning and she was fine. Nobody knew. It's what I kept coming back to all day: nobody knew.

I rarely saw Chiquita for more than ten minutes at a time. She was usually getting off work when I was coming in but she always took the time greet me. She was the first person to show me around the bakery and she got me freezer gloves so my hands wouldn't be cold. She knew places to find ingredients in St. Louis and did her best to help me when I needed to find something. She remembered problems I was having and asked how I was doing with them. And she made me laugh. We didn't spend much time together in the seven months I've worked there but I know she was a good person and she will be missed by many.

It's so strange to me how just yesterday I spoke of her in the present and now everything is in the past tense... How quickly and unexpectedly life changes. Times like these make you realize how much of life we take for granted. Branden's at work and I won't see him until after midnight but I've still made sure I've told him over and over how much I love him. A very wise woman once told me to always tell your husband that you love him at the end of every phone conversation, every time you go to bed, every time one of you is leaving the house,etc.,- even if you're mad- because you never know when it'll be the last time. Kazia, I always have and I always will. Today, more than ever, I appreciate your wisdom.

I hope that each of you will do me- and yourselves- a favor as soon as possible: Tell your spouse, children, sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers and any other loved ones that you love them. Let the people you care about know that they are loved and appreciated. You'll never regret it.