I'm still finding it hard to grasp that it's been a year since she left. Over the course of the year I've experienced so many things that remind me of Sam and how much she meant to me, all the good times we spent together (just today I received a reminder on FB about when I went over to take care of her after she had her wisdom teeth pulled, and how thankful she was for me and for her friends thinking about her). So many songs that I know she used to love, songs that just remind me of her in so many ways. For me, Firework is the one that stands out the most not only because of the timing of her passing, but I just remember how much she laughed at the plastic bag lyric, how I received many a snap of plastic bags saying "o hay katy perry" and how much it made me laugh too. So for me, the time around Independence Day has become a lot less about the country I live in and a lot more about one of my most precious friends.

Missing you every day lady! Enjoy the fireworks this year!!