Columbia

Last weekend was a whirlwind. I learned of Sandi's passing last Wednesday, booked a flight on Thursday afternoon, and flew to Columbia on Saturday morning. We had a visitation at Sandi's house with just family, close colleagues and friends, and her students. We talked about her, cried together, played with her dogs, hugged her family...I think it was therapeutic for alot of us. I snapped a few pictures so that later we'd remember who was there.

In the first picture, you can see students looking through her vita, which is her life story in academia. Her's is VERY impressive!

This is Bobber, one of the family dogs. (I couldn't get rid of the red eye). Bobber was really Sandi's. Every time we were at their house, he would quietly cuddle up with her. After the visitation, I let the dogs in and Bobber just wondered around then sat down in the middle of the room looking very sad. It made me tear up all over again.

The kitchen with TONS of people helping with food and drinks. That's Luke in the green shirt, Sandi's son. Such a gentleman, even at 18 yrs old.

The newest addition to the Science Ed family!! =) I was so glad to meet sweet Findlay West. She is adorable.

Michele and Meredith with Debi in the middle. Debi is one of the faculty members and opened up her home to all the graduates who came back into town for the weekend. She had 4 of us, and it was so nice to be able to have girl time and stay up telling stories about our time together and how we first met Sandi. Priceless girl time.

These two ladies are my besties, as they say. =) They are the ones who flew to my home in Texas to throw me a baby shower when we first moved here (and Dalton and I were the only ones in attendance). Hilarious! Such sweet friends in my life, and I'm so thankful to have been together with them.