Shalom

Shalom ……. That’s how Alli and I would great each other.   

For those of you who don’t know I am Allison’s sister Denise…..AKA Nerd 


Years ago, Allison gave me this little wooden block the simply says ‘How do people make it through life without a sister’ and for the last 26 days and for all my days to come I will be trying to figure that out.  

I don’t have to tell any of you that she was simply the best, because you already know that and that’s why you are all here today.  She touched your life and left you with sunshine, but for us she was the sun that we rotated around.  

Steve and I were nearly 13 and 9 when this blond haired blue-eyed little girl came into our lives. Being older we got to color, play Candyland, and play hide and seek all over again.  She was 5 when I learned her silence could be bought with a box of crayons and a new coloring book as one weekend I had a wee bit of a gathering when the parental team was away.  She never did squeal on me, but yes, they did find out.  Living in Yakima at the time summers were all about running through the sprinkler and camping out in the back yard. She grew older and our fun times continued like riding our bikes to Dairy Queen for a Dilly Bar or me driving us out to the park to go feed the ducks.  

She must have been in college doing her environmental studies when she found her passion for saving the Earth through recycling.  She beat me into submission and today I can recycle with the best of them.  She has this print in her office of a little girl feeding whales who are lined up for a treat, that print always reminds me of that wide-eyed college graduate who loved this world for its land, its water, its animals and its humans.

As the years went by we continued to hang out and have laughs as often as possible.  Allison was my maid of honor, twice, and I was hers when we gained Barrett.  We always have so much fun together. One year she, Jess and I went on a New York City adventure and a few years later the three of us plus Mom and Malena took a trip to Waco TX the home of HGTV’s Fixer Upper.

Looking back, I can’t remember when the first happy mail campaign was or even who it was for.  But what an amazing thing she started.  A thought that she had to bring someone a smile was the seed and asking friends and family to assist was the sprout of this amazing happy mail vine that has woven its way around connecting people and growing into such an amazing network of givers.  I know we will continue to send happy mail out into the world with a smile and the thought of her as we add the stamp, whether it be a special stamp like the Mister Rodgers stamps she was so excited about or just the simple flag one.  Feel free to add a little flare to the envelope in Alli fashion…. draw a picture, use stickers or use the best thing ever…. Washi tape.

She was a fantastic aunt to Zach, Jessica, Tyler, and Taylor; always going that extra mile to send cards and care packages, getting exactly what they wanted for birthdays and Christmas, and for showing up to every single milestone she possible could.  Whether it was down to Tri-Cities in the summer or over to Pullman in the middle winter when it was below zero outside.  She loved all four of you fiercely... but, maybe favored the girls just a little because they drank hard ciders with her and we all know how Alli loved her hard cider.

Allison gave me a special gift over the years by letting me hang out with her and her friends from time to time. It was a win-win for me as it meant more time with her and I got to meet so many of you in this amazing group of friends that she has. Thank you all for the love you showed Alli over the years and the love and support you have and will continue to show Barrett, Malena and all of us.

Thank you all for coming here today and sharing in the Love for one amazing human being and a truly one of a kind Sister.