it’s a true testament to someone’s strength of spirit that in five years of acquaintence you would never even guess they were facing a life-threatening illness. for the same reasons i imagine the loss is all the greater to everyone who knew her, and my heart and thoughts are with the wakerlys this week and in the future.

i wish that just driving up to show our support at a service could better reflect how much we enjoyed knowing her. if it’s any comfort to mike or the rest of his family, there was one thing i thought while listening to her friends and family speak of kate: that she really lived life well and made a mark on the world around her. she will absolutely be missed.