Julie

This weekend, we gathered with family and friends to celebrate the life of Julie Rolak. There were tears, stories, and memories shared. It was sad and beautiful, all at the same time. Of everything shared, one thing was evident: Julie was a woman defined by her character and not her circumstance. I don’t know if it’s because I didn't want to get emotional, but I didn't share the Julie I knew.

For me, Julie was more than my husband’s aunt. Through the years, I looked forward to emails, fb messages, words with friends chats (man, did she kick my butt at words with friends!) and summers at the farm. I met her in the summer of 2003, and the following summer, during our visit, I was going through a lot of personal drama. Julie single-handedly kept me sane. She listened to anything and everything, and gave me very thoughtful advice. But that was Julie. She was a great listener, she genuinely cared about what you were going through, and gave the best advice. We shared a love of food and could talk about anything and everything. My favorite memories of Julie are of our talks on the back porch; the guys would be outside solving the world’s problems, the kids watching tv, and I would be folding laundry and Julie would come in and we would talk. Talk long after the clothes were folded.

 Julie was my friend.

Although I am relieved she is no longer in pain, I am selfishly sad. Sad because my confidant is no longer here to give me advice. Sad because she never knew just how much she meant to me. I am a better person for having known Julie. She will be immensely missed.

Julie and Owen

Hug, kiss, and tell the people you love, that you love them, as often as you can.