Ski buddies

One of the last times I saw Kara was over Thanksgiving 2000 when we went to the Jim Brickman concert together with our parents. I remember Kara and I laughing during the intermission, saying that we were going to join the Jim Brickman fan club so we could get the free “romance candle” that came along with the membership. I remember the two of us talking about how cool it was to be an Aunt, how excited she was to meet Aidan. We joked about her nephew and my niece becoming play buddies in Cazenovia, and how there was going to be a “Cazenovia Lake Summer Camp” for the grandchildren of our parents and all of their friends. Kara and Emily were like the little sisters I never had, particularly back in the days when our families would take vacations together to Myrtle Beach, Florida, Park City Utah, Garnet Hill Lodge in the Adirondacks, Lake Placid, or just hanging out in DeWitt, Fayetteville, Tully Lake and Cazenovia Lake. Kara was always my ski buddy, and I have several of pictures of us smiling high on top of the mountains in Utah. One of my favorites is a picture of Kara and I lying in the snow, with our faces tilted towards the sun, trying to get that perfect ski tan, captioned as “The Sun Worshippers.” In the years after high school I did not see Kara as often, perhaps 2-3 times a year, but I always kept up with her comings and goings through her parents, who I saw quite often. The memories on this website have helped me get to know Kara throughout the different phases of her life, and for that I am thankful. I feel so very fortunate to have been part of such a closely-knit group of families growing up, and the Hoods have always been like a second family to me. To the Hood family, Bob, Jean, Chris, Michelle, Aidan, Jason, Emily, Grandma Dorsey, please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers every day. And to Kara, you did so many amazing things in your short time with us, I feel so proud to have known you and called you my friend. Please know that you are loved and missed each day by each and every person you touched. Love, Alison