Yesterday I was informed that a friend of mine, Hilary Weimer, lost her battle with colorectal cancer.
She was in her mid 20's.
We knew each other for about 5 years. We had dated some time ago and while things didn't work out romantically, we stayed friends ever since.
I am not kidding when I tell you this woman was one of the most vibrant, energetic, optimistic and friendly people I have EVER come across in my short 32 years of life.
And she was so...persistently...IMMERSED in life. That's the best way I can put it.
It's like she woke up every day on an epic quest to satisfy this undying thirst she had in her soul - a thirst for new experiences, new people and new things to think about.
She was like an addict when it came to education. She wanted more of it, ALL the time. And she wanted to talk about it...to bring you as her friend INTO it, to share her exuberance for it, an exuberance which just over...FLOWED.
I won't ever forget the time she convinced me to go on a snowshoeing adventure with her. I was content with sitting at home playing video games that afternoon, but she insisted.
She was like that. She could tell that something would be a GOOD thing and she would pursue it with the vigor of a Romanian gladiator.
She showed me that real optimism lives and in fact thrives. It's in the smiles and hearts of all people who have faith in humankind and who are truly good beings. It's unmistakable in some people, and Hilary was one of those people.
Today, I am having a hard time concentrating on much. I can't stop thinking about the void of LOGIC at play here...the fact that Hilary - someone so valuable and grateful for life - would be taken from this world before ME?
ME??? A guy ambivalent at BEST about the worth of his own life?
ME?!?
What a colossal, cosmic injustice. It serves as proof in the pudding that there isn't a God with good intentions and an all-touching hand. It proves the opposite.
It proves that this life is what we make it, and the people in it are there to share the ride with us, to teach us and to love us.
I don't need a God to know this. I just need the warmth, openness and graciousness of people like Hilary.
May another person like her, or indeed many of them, find their way into my life again.
I will never forget you Hilary. Rest in peace.
2 comments:
I could not agree more with your comments. She was the same energetic, outgoing person in high school, ready to take on the world. One of the nicest people put on this earth, way too young to go. She will be missed.
I knew Hilary during our time together at IU and we became fast friends. I was devastated when I first heard that she had passed. I found myself thinking about her quite a bit today and just happened to find this blog online. She loved life more than anyone I've ever known and I miss her everyday. Thank you so much for the post.
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