Rest and Have Peace, Kim

When a friend of yours dies at age 48, it's a shock to everyone who knew her. When it's someone who seems to burst with energy all the time, there are no words for the disbelief that everyone is experiencing.
Kim was THE mom. The supermom. We first met shortly after I arrived in West Lafayette, when our daughters were in preschool together. Kim did not have a slow speed; pregnant with her second (or third) child, she was always organizing something--Family Day at the preschool, end of the year parties, whatever needed to be done. But my first realization that she was THE SUPERMOM came late in the year. Her daughter's birthday party was a pool party in their backyard. All the kids had an amazing time, and when Erika came out after the party, she was carrying a new towel: her name was quilted in big letters on this towel! I thanked Kim profusely, and she replied, "Oh, it's really nothing. Easy to do." We still have it--it's a faded, but still lush, pink towel. Truly, Kim was in a class by herself, and I was in awe.
Throughout the years, Kim stayed the same committed bundle of energy and organization. She was on the Parent Council, organized Book Fairs, headed the committee for Teacher's Luncheons, and it seemed like she was always at the school, volunteering in the office or in the classroom. Her commitment rubbed off on other parents, including me--it was hard to say "no" when Kim asked you to do something, because you knew she was doing the same thing and more.
Maybe she just liked to stay busy; I guess I never questioned her motives. But I think the deep love she had for each one of her children also motivated her. They were the most important things in her life, and she appreciated the teachers and coaches they had, the secretaries, janitors, and support staff at the schools--she remembered to take time to thank them and support them in any way she could. Imagine the awesome education system we could have in this country if everyone was like Kim!! Imagine.
Kim died while on a trip to a college her daughter was interested in attending next year; it's not a surprise that she was involved until the very end. What is surprising, tragic, absolutely unbelievable is that she was only 48 years old. Too young and too full of energy to go. It's hard to think of Kim, "resting in peace", but now she can. She raised three amazing people, and could certainly have said, at the end of her life, "I did all I could."
This can be the challenge to the rest of us--at the end of every day, we should ask ourselves, honestly-- "Did I do all I could today--for my family, friends, and community?" Kim did. So can we. For me, this will be Kim's lasting legacy.
We will miss you, Kim. Our community mourns.