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A few years ago my friend Lauren passed…I think it was in June of 2005. She was eating cracker in the morning, to combat morning sickness from her pregnancy and she choked on the cracker with her husband asleep in bed next to her.

Every now and then I think of Lauren (Hanewich) and her family, her mom used to (not sure if she still is) be the secretary to the president of our college. Her family was some good folks and my friend David and I used to go out to their house on occasion. I hadn’t talked to her for a couple of years…time and distance kind of thing, and while I can’t remember when it was exactly, but I do remember most of the day that I learned she died.

I was in the office and got the phone call, and this is the part I’m not clear on…I can’t remember if David called and told me, or if someone else did and I had to call and tell David. After I got off the phone I walked into my friend Michelle’s office and shut the door and just started to sob. Heh…I’m getting all watery-eyed just looking back on it. That was one of the harder days I’ve been through. She left behind a child, a husband, and took her unborn child with her.

Normally when I think about Lauren I want to put pen to paper but have always ended up scratching it all out and tossing it. I’m not doing that this time though, so I wrote this, Bright as the Sun.

Its been two years since you’ve been gone
And I’ve tried so many times to write you a song
But I haven’t done well, letting my thoughts to paper flow
Then tonight I looked up and I saw you,

Shining down on me, shining down on me
Shining down on me, bright as the sun

There was a day not long ago
When the gates opened and the tears rolled
On down my cheeks
And my heart sank low in my chest
My soul just needed a rest
From this life that has gotten me down
And from my back I look up and saw you were

Shining down on me, shining down on me
Shining down on me, bright as the sun.

I know its short, but I think it fits the mood I’m in right now, and is something I’m comfortable with. So Lauren, here’s to you, I’ll go out and buy some Parrot Bay to toast to you.