Losing Friends is Never Easy.

I need to take this opportunity to write a post about someone who was amazing.

For four summers of my life I worked in the middle of nowhere Pennsylvania in the woods of Caledonia State Park. Judy Houser was our executive director.

Judy Houser was a friend.

She took care of me when I was a little lost girl in the woods of Pennsylvania all by myself. She looked after me and Cadi when we were hanging out past our expiration date at Totem Pole. While she was fighting the ultimate battle of her life, she let me sit in her office and rage to her and Sue about whatever I was feeling at the moment. Happy or sad, she heard it with words of wisdom and love. She laughed at me when it snowed and (as a Southerner) I had no clue how to walk on the icy walkway to her office. She gave me work when I needed it and support when I needed that and while those few months in the woods were lonely for me, knowing Judy and Sue and Kathy were there helped. More than she may ever know.

I hope she rests easy. But I lost a friend. And nine thousand miles away from where my heart is at this given time, I am sad.

So Judy, this post is for you. It's not much, but from a scared, sad little girl to a woman who will always be remembered as one of the strongest women I know, thank you. You are and will be missed but never forgotten.