Kara’s Spirit

A few years ago, Kara, Emily, Jean, Bob, Chris and myself were at Common Grounds. Low and behold, there was a parade. The effort was there, but in all honesty, you had to laugh at the “small town” feel of the plows, firetrucks, etc, that made up the parade. Then who should walk into Common Grounds but Miss Madison County herself. I will not do this justice, but it was really funny- of course what really made it funny was Kara’s playfulness about the whole sight, expressing her dismay that she was not the lucky one chosen to be the princess. But in between her jokes, Kara scolded herself for picking on an event that had all good and grand intentions. In fact, I think what was funniest was watching Kara try not to make jokes but then getting her playful look in her eyes, knowing that another “Kara comment” was going to slip out. When Chris and I got engaged, Kara made no secret that she was having a tough time adjusting to her changing family. After we were married, we spent a few days at the beginning of the honeymoon with the (Senior) Hood’s since Jason was in town. We played frisbee golf, went on hikes, ate together, carved pumpkins, prayed the rosary together. Soon after we got home from the honeymoon, I recieved a letter of apology from Kara, stating, “I thought I was losing a brother, but now I see that I am actually gaining a sister.” I got a similiar card from her last Christmas, where she wrote “bear with me. I was just getting used to this sister in law thing and now I am an aunt, too.” Kara challenged herself to be a better person, and she did so with an incredible sense of humor and humility. She had an intense passion for her family. I recently found a letter that Kara left for me in March of 2000, knowing that she was not going to see me before she left. I had just had a surprise birthday party for Chris, and in her note left by my toothbrush, she thanked me for including her, and complimented Chris and me on what we have. That is class. Kara was an incredibly classy woman. I am so sad for the memories that we are not going to make together and the lessons she will not teach me- I think that a part of me is still in incredible shock. The world is an incredible place because of Kara.