Arboretum Bench Donations

Dear friends and family and everyone who loves Julie,

So far, we have raised $1,000! The goal at this point is to raise 3 to 5,000 to donate a bench in Julie's memory to the Ann Arbor Arboretum. The funds will go towards a good cause (the mainenance of the beautiful arboretum) and the bench will serve as a symbol of our love for Julie and provide a place for the community to remember our lovely friend.

If you wish to donate, please e-mail me at the following address:

lawyersara@yahoo.com

I will keep updating this blog regarding our progress and I will announce the date of the "unveiling" event at the Arboretum so that we can all be there to remember Julie.

Thanks so much for your time and assistance,

Sara

Remebering Julie on Nov. 30

This is a difficult time of year. For me, it brings back the troubling, sad memories of Julie's death. However, I prefer to try to focus my attention on her life instead. Julie lived life to the fullest. Despite her struggles with depression and disability, she always had a smile to share, a hug to give, and a helping hand to lend.

I will always remember Julie's life in a positive light. It is impossible for me not to do so. She brought so much happiness into my life and taught me how to enjoy simple pleasures (our favorite pastime was as simple as drinking a hot mug of Yerba Matte mixed with vanilla soy milk and honey).

In rememberance of Julie, I wish to either plant a tree or build a bench in the Arboretum. The Arb, of course, was one of Julie's favorite spots in Ann Arbor. We used to routinely pass through the Arb on our weekly runs together during college. She spent one evening "camping" in the Arb during college and, although I did not participate in this particular event, I know that she treasured that evening. She would sit by the water and write in her journal or just talk to those passing by. I remember going to the Arb with Julie and her dog Blue. It gave Julie so much pleasure to appreciate nature and watch Blue play in the woods.

A gift to the Arb is quite expensive. But I believe that it will give those of us who remember Julie a place to go, possibly even a place to sit, and remember her life in a positive way. If you remember Julie and would like to contribute to this Arb project, please send me an e-mail at: lawyersara@yahoo.com

I will update this blog with progress on the "Arb donation project" and let you know how it is progressing. I will also let you know the date of the "unveiling," when we can bring flowers and letters to the Arb and celebrate Julie's life together.

Thank you for reading and please feel free to leave comments as well.

Sara

Colorful Leaves

Every time I see a bright red, orange, or yellow leaf drift down from a tall tree and gently fall onto the green grass, I remember Julie. When I lived in Texas, I missed the vibrant fall colors with a passion. I yearned to walk down a cool campus street and see a world covered in swirling blissful colors. Julie sensed this yearning and religiously sent me a letter with a single cheerful bright leaf. She sent me a piece of her heart and a piece of my favorite season every year without fail. What more could a friend ask for?

Sara's Mom Remembers Julie

My fondest memory of Julie is when she and Sara came to stay with me when I was at a meeting in Chicago and they were roomates in Ann Arbor. I had the smallest room at the Drake Hotel, with only two small twin beds. Sara and Julie decided to take a night club tour which ended up lasting all night. I'm not sure where the picture of the two of them that night is, but I can still visualize Julie and Sara wearing their little black dresses with feather boas around their necks. They both were smiling,young, having the time of their lives, and seemingly care free.Thatis my fondest memory of Julie, and the way I like to remember her.

Sara's Mom

Karma

Julie had an aura of good karma around her. She could smile at a stranger and they would impulsively return the favor. Her sense of adventure was unique, as was her style.

Sometimes you have an instant connection with a person. As if you were meant to spend time together during our short time on Earth. The time between "hello" and whispering your deepest darkest secrets as you gently glide into sleep as roommates becomes fuzzy. You feel that you have known this person for all eternity and yet, you just met.

I've felt that connection before, but only a few times. Once with Julie, again with Jenny, later when I met my husband and, most recently, with my friend Lauren. It is this type of deep spiritual connection with others that mystifies me and keeps me yearning for more time in this lifetime. As Jenny said recently, "If I were to die tomorrow, I would be unafraid of death itself. It is those I love who I would worry about. I fear they would miss me too much."

Well put, Jenny. I would miss you terribly, as I miss Julie. But, it is better to have loved and lost and if I could turn back the clock, I'd spend just as much time laughing, crying, empathizing, shouting, running, jumping, falling, and sliding through life with Julie.

Rainbow Bookshelf

As I sat in my office this weekend grading what appeared to be an infinite number of student papers I stopped to reflect. WWJD? What would Julie do? Immediately, a wonderful idea came to mind. I remembered Julie's immaculately tailored book scheme in her colorful, cluttered room in Ann Arbor. She decided to arrange her books not by theme, author, title, or subject, but by color. She had a rainbow bookshelf.

Frustrated by piles of papers and an innate need to be creative, I decided to arrange my bookshelf (full of legal research and writing sources) by color. Now, my bookshelf at work is a daily colorful reminder of Julie's spirit. Thank you, Julie, for bringing vibrant color into my life.

Sara

Abby Remembers Julie

When I think about Julie I think about community & family. Julies mother & aunt went to high school with my mother & aunt. One night her mom & aunt came out dancing with us to the Necto for 70's night - all got in free either for being over 35 or wearing snazzy disco clothes. She used to shop regularly at the Kiwanis club and buy trinkets & posessions from my grandmother (a volunteer there). Her cousin graduated from Pioneer with my sister. She was such an energetic person who really lived life to the fullest. She made the world a better place... Abby