In Memory of Kathryn
Kathryn's Garden
Each summer, Kathryn's Aunt Karen, Auntie, plants a garden. In 2005, the
garden consisted of flowers of different colors. However, there
was no grass or sod. When Kathryn was over at Aunt Karen's house she
would always bring her two pugs and they would pee all over the
flowers. Aunt Karen would look at Kathryn and say, "Kathryn, how
'bout you watch your dogs so they don't pee on my flowers."
Kathryn would look at her and smile saying, "how 'bout you get
some sod so they will pee there and not on your flowers." One of
those quirky responses that Kathryn would always come up with.
In the summer of 2006, Aunt
Karen wanted to grow her garden in memory of Kathryn.
Since Kathryn's favorite color was yellow, she decided to have all yellow flowers. And sure
enough, that summer there was also a section with sod. It was around Kathryn's
Angel statue that was in the middle of the garden.
Aunt Karen was even more
excited about creating "Kathryn's Garden" on the night of the 1st
dance showcase. In the assortment of raffle baskets, there was a
basket
titled "Gardener's Delight." In it was a stepping stone, garden
gloves and tools, a metal yard sign, a gardening book, a decorative
pillow, a daisy and sweet pea grow kit, and a copper watering can.
The wrapping around this basket of items was tied together
with ribbon. Hanging from that ribbon, was an angel ornament,
that had Kathryn's name on it.
Aunt Karen used her raffle
tickets with the hope of winning this gardener's basket. Sure
enough, during intermission when Elizabeth and Nicholas were calling
off the ticket number for that basket, Aunt Karen stood up with tears
in her eyes. She walked to the stage to receive the prize and
while she was up there she told a quick story...
..."The night before Kathryn died, she was at a dance show. They
were raffling off a basket of cookies shaped as pointe shoes and ballet
bears. That night, Kathryn won that raffle basket and said, 'This
is so cool, I never have won a raffle before!' Kathryn was so
excited that night while holding the basket of cookies and tonight, as
I hold my gardener's basket, I can only think of her and how she must
have wanted my number to be drawn for this prize. I love you
Kathryn."
One morning, towards the
end of August 2006, Aunt Karen went out to look at Kathryn's Garden.
She had noticed that some of the sod and flowers around Kathryn's
Angel had been dug up. When she looked closer, she saw baby
bunnies that had just been born earlier that morning. They had
been nestled up under a part of the sod. We all can't help but
think that, because of Kathryn's Garden and that sod, those bunnies
will be safe next to Kathryn's Angel until they are big enough to make
it on their own.
At the 2nd dance showcase,
Aunt Karen won another garden basket during the raffle and her garden
continues to grow bigger, brighter and more beautiful.
|