Fill in the blank Friday

I love Fridays for all of the obvious reasons, but also because I love filling in Lauren's blanks each week. Feel free to hop on board the FITBF train!

1. In the story of my life the actor who would play me would be Rachel McAdams. I have to copy Jess here because she pegged it. Rachel McAdams, while looking nothing like me, has the definite ability to play my crazy, Gemini dual-personality self with a lovely air of grace. Plus, Rachel McAdams is totally my celebrity girl crush.

2. If I could change one thing about the world it would be to stop all of the hatred. That's almost as cliche an answer as "to bring world peace", but I don't think anyone can deny that the world would be a better place if we weren't constantly creating prejudices and violently acting out on them.

3. Yesterday was a good day that ended with not enough sleep, but some fantastic cuddling.

4. My favorite comfort food is a warm chocolate chip cookie. Not a soft or gooey one, but one that is slightly overdone with melty chocolate chips. Yum!

5. My new favorite blog find is Summer over at {B is for...}. She's a Southern gal living life with her hubby in New York City, and is endlessly entertaining. Her father also just beat his battle with cancer, and reading about it has been very inspiring.

6. If I could meet any blog friend (who I haven't met yet) in real life, I'd choose to meet my bloggy soulmate Jess (LittleMsSunshine) and my lovely friend Ashley (Kiwis and Cocktails). I love emailing with both of these gals and just know we'd be instant real life friends.

7. My favorite breakfast food is vegetarian eggs benedict with spinach and tomatoes instead of ham. Hollandaise sauce always feels like such an indulgence, and I love poached eggs. Oooh, and a giant biscuit from Lucile's Creole Cafe.

Remembering Rebecca

Nearly 2 years ago my friend and co-worker, Rebecca Allen, was killed by a drunk driver. She was out for an early morning (5 am) bike ride with a friend when they were struck by a 20 year old driving home from a house party. Rebecca was rushed to the hospital where she died of her injuries. She was only 32 years old and one of the best people I've ever known.

I will never forget that phone call as I left my apartment for work and the instant stomach-clenching and tears that came with it, nor will I forget the sound of my mother's crying when I walked into the house. Before Rebecca was my co-worker, she had worked with my Mom and was a wonderful friend to both of us. She was part of a tight-knit group of my Mom's former co-workers that were both friend and 2nd family to me. And her death rocked this group to the core.

Well, yesterday we had the unveiling of a memorial bench in Rebecca's honor on CSU's main campus, and it was lovely. It was wonderful to see everyone and to know that Rebecca will be able to touch people's lives long after those of us who knew her are gone. Anyone walking past the Clark C-Wing building will see this bench, be drawn in by the bronzed flip flops sitting under it (she was a flip-flop kind of gal!) and will read the plaque commemorating her life. They'll wonder who this woman was, and Rebecca will continue to live on in people's thoughts.

Rebecca Anne-Emily Gumtow Allen
June 23, 1976 - July 22, 2008
Daughter, Sister, Wife, Friend,
Cyclist & Earth Advocate
CSU Alumna, Staff & Advisor
Loved and Missed By All

Those of us who knew her will always remember that she was an avid recycler, biked absolutely everywhere, loved her husband with her entire being and put herself out there for each and every one of her students; she was a beloved daughter, sister, aunt and a wonderful friend; she loved a good beer, typically snacked through her lunch before noon rolled around and always had a smile on her face. She was our Rebecca.

I drive by the spot where she was killed nearly every day on my way to work, and it gets a little easier each day. I cried almost every morning for the first 6 months or so, but now I can see the little white cross that was placed on the light pole and I can smile when Rebecca's face flashes through my mind.

She's loved, missed and remembered always.

Inspirational

If you're looking for inspiration, need a good cry or want to see what true, no questions asked love looks like, check out Kelle Hampton's blog about how life changed for the better with the addition of her 2nd daughter, Nella who has Down Syndrome. Maybe it's the rainy weather or my quiet mood, but I don't know if I've ever been as touched as I was while reading her story.