Today I light a yarzeit candle for my sister. I light it so I can remember her, and how much she loved us all.

July 16, 2011 was unseasonably chilly and rainy when we gathered to search for her. It poured on us, but we were not to be deterred. News cameras followed us, fascinated to see more than 50 people, all wearing red, all gathered to search for a neighborhood woman while her husband was conspicuously absent.

A scream from the woods 10 minutes in, and her body was found. I called 911 and spent the longest 7 minutes of my life on the phone with a poor, unsuspecting operator who did a wonderful job. (I never knew who it was - if you read this, Thank You. I'm sorry I made it difficult, but you provided a security blanket until they got there. Bless You.) As soon as I hung up the phone, I looked up and noticed that the rain had stopped, and the sun was shining on the spot where she was, peeking through a hole in the trees.

The following are lyrics I wrote for a song for her. I wrote them around 4am on my dad's couch a day or two after her body was found. I was unable to sleep for more than 20 minutes or so, and so instead wrote notes for her Eulogy and tried to be productive.

She Brought The Sun

She treasured the laughter
The little moments filled with fun
She danced, she smiled
She brought the sun

She always knew the thing to do
She took care of everyone
She told us the next steps to take
She brought the sun

It was cold and dark without her
Without a trace without a clue
We looked to one another
Found the way to see us through

We'll never forget the way she loved
Her courage and devotion
She knew the ways to make us smile
She brought the sun