Cory Loved

This was written by a heartbroken mother, perhaps 48 hours or so before her daughter's funeral that she could only refer to as "the service".  It was meant to give people who hadn't known her daughter very well an idea of the kind of person Cory was and the things she valued, small and great.  Here, said this woman, who could not see anything but blackness, take this snapshot of my girl and see the beauty she left behind.  But to read it or hear it read, as it was at the "service" brought pain, misery, and fear.  How to live without these moments ever again?

I reread this just a few minutes ago, and did not cry.  I smiled.  I beamed.  I read the words, and let the images wash over me like a warm bath over aching bones.

 Now each memory is like a bead of the pearl necklace Cory treasured...to me, at least, they each gleam, lustrous one by one, but put them together, and the presentation may cause a lump in your throat, not from pain, but just that feeling you get when you see something so exquisite, it causes a physical reaction.

This was read by our pastor at my daughter's funeral.  As you read it, I can only hope it reminds you to treasure your loved ones- every moment and every quirk.

Cory loved…

Pistachios

Dr. Pepper chapstick

Mommy & Cory days spent browsing the mall and going to the movies

Being the DJ while her mom made dinner

Dancing with her mom, brother, and cat in the kitchen

The band, My Chemical Romance

Watching American Idol with her family

Paying her little brother to paint her toenails

Crushing garlic cloves for her mom when they cooked together

The hot wings at Jack’s

Her mom’s cooking…so much that she said she’d never, ever leave home

Watching scary movies

Sitting at the end of her mom’s bed every chance she got to share stories and laugh

An ice cold Sun Drop

The color pink

Hello Kitty

Going to Barnes and Nobles for a Frappuccino and just to look around

Changing her hair color and hair style like a clever little chameleon

Spoiling her brother with the very last dollar in her purse

Singing…anywhere, everywhere, and all the time

Painting

Hugging her grandma and grandpa goodbye each and every time she saw them

Being read to

Pasta

Making  people laugh

Watching over her brother like a little mother hen

Friday lunches with her dad every week

Going to church

Being a ventriloquist for her cat, Church, who is apparently a very talented singer with a Southern accent

and

Walking to the Urbandale plaza just for something fun to do