Have You Seen, Heard, Felt Or Sensed Anna Since Her Passage On March 28, 2018?

 One year ago to the hour, mi hija Anna and her bestie, Amanda, tragically experienced their fatal car accident. It was the day after my 60th bday so my bday will always be linked to that life changing event. I trekked to the crash site yesterday just in time to have new friends treat me to an amazing steak dinner and serenades en español.

Today local dignitaries, first responders, and various angels celebrated the dedication of a memorial to the girls. Beverly, Jesus, David,… and many others made the event possible and wonderful which also included dedication of new traffic signs. Jesus spoke on behalf of the mayor, and I spoke on behalf of the families. Anna told me that I didn’t talk too long and no one snored. Sammy the perfect translator too. Amanda’s dad and grandma also joined in. Special thanks to Charlie and Bob (and Michelle) — dear friends via Natalie who happen to live nearby and hosted me in their perfect mansion.

It was also a reunion for me. On the night we picked up Anna’s body a year ago we met a wonderful musician, Rick Scott at the SWIM restaurant. That led us to meet Chad Cloward who has become a close friend as we have shared our respective fires. Chad evoked more tears when he shared that he blows a kiss every time he drives by the site, and shared with me that “he has never loved someone so much that he has never met.”

And meanwhile back at the ranch at St Bedes, Kathy teared up in front of her 2nd grade students on this auspicious day. And then teared up again upon finding a letter on her desk that said:

“Dear Mrs. Wilson, I know you feel really sad today because someone died, but I cried when my dog died. I was wondering if you need any help today. Sincerely, Your Student”

Is there any doubt that Anna is looking down loving all of us?

  I was able to go to Anna’s memorial service and plaque dedication at Westridge, and I so appreciated being allowed to help scatter Anna’s ashes all around the world, in beautiful places that she would have loved. I shared everything that was said and everything you gave me and at the memorial with Madeleine Russell, since we were at Middlebury together until this past month. 

  Over our spring break this year, we went to St. George Island, Florida, and we scattered the ashes at sunset in the Gulf of Mexico. We lit a candle. (We used up every single match in the little box—the wind kept snuffing them out. We laughed and cried thinking about how Anna would have laughed at us.) We talked about Anna, remembered her, and then waded into the water to spread her ashes. We said a prayer, lowered the ashes into the water in our hands to let them go with the current, and right when we were finished, we got hit by a huge wave. It completely soaked us. We really felt Anna with us in that moment, enjoying the beauty of the sea and the sky and being playful with us. Madeleine took these pictures right afterwards. It was so good for the two of us to remember Anna together. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for including both of us in your remembrance of Anna.

Peace, Love, and Pure Vida,

Lucy and Madeleine

I remember about a day or two after Anna had passed, I had a long weekend while in Chile, so I went to visit my host mom’s daughter. I happened to be facetiming my boyfriend while in my room and I mentioned that there was a ladybug on a lamp. He told me that ladybugs are often reincarnated people. From then on, I saw ladybugs everywhere. I remember walking up a staircase during a school observation and saw a ladybug sitting on the railing; a ladybug landed on my shirt while I was enjoying a wine tour; a ladybug landed on my friend’s shoulder and seemed to linger a little longer than it normally would just to keep eye contact with me. Ladybugs became such a normal sighting that I made a point to say “Hi Anna” and hold a short conversation with her every chance I got. I knew Anna was (and still is!) looking over me every single day.

Annnuhhhhh, mi hija, anakin, how sweet of you to show up for your 6 month anniversary. As you know, but I’ll let the humans who read this know, you passed to your non physical life 6 months ago yesterday. As I often do, I asked for a sign that you are still with me (it’s still so hard to believe that I don’t get to use my normal senses to see or hear you any more). I had flown into San Jose, and was heading up to visit Jim for a hike up to the Stanford Dish and an overdue catch up, You know me, after I got off the plane I needed my starbucks chai tea latte 140 degrees no water, so I looked on google maps and found one close by. And guess what? I missed a turn, and the map took me to a street corner that showed me you are here. And that you are close by. And that you are love, light, and magnificent. Ahhh good one Anna. Today was a really good one. Keep ’em coming.

Anna visited my dreams the other night. I’m not sure of the specifics but she came with me on this trip to Italy and just wanted to check in with me to see/say everything is going to be great. I lit a vigil candle in honor of Anna in the Church of Michele degli Antinori in Florence.