Last Summer

By most weather reports, winter arrived late this year.

My experience feels different.

To press play above is to hear the song that makes me think about Alice again and again. Gwen Stefani sings "it looks like an early winter for us" and I think how winter really did start early for us, on September 19 to be exact. I know I'm taking the lyrics out of context.

It's poignant that Alice died on just about the last day of summer, given that she was a summer girl. She loved the sun and warm air and had a perpetually glowing tan. Her last summer was so full of hope, too. Hope for exciting things in San Diego as she neared completion of her master's degree in kineseology, hope for her niece as she was watching her grow, hope generally for good things ahead.

This winter has been going on for a very long time now, and the end isn't in sight.

At least the reminder is a pop song, which Alice enjoyed blasting on her stereo, too.