Lori Will Live On...
According to my parents, Lori prayed every night for me. Truth be told, she prayed for a baby brother, but I don't think she was disappointed when she received me. My earliest memories are of my Nanny yelling for me to "get back in the house now, quickly" (in Spanish--we lived in Panama) because every time I heard Lori's school bus approach, I would dart outside to greet her. All my early memories are of Lori. How she taught me to read when I was only three; how she taught me to tie my shoes when I was only four; how she taught me to color better than anyone could color in my kindergarten class. She also gave me a love of books. She read to me every night before I went to bed and I'll always remember how funny she sounded reading "Donald Duck and the Witch Next Door" with a retainer in her mouth. Many years later, she taught me how to take proper notes in school and I must say that I owe a tremendous amount to her for the fact that I was in Honors English during my primary school years and eventually received a degree in English at a University. It was all because of her.
In my younger years, everything she did I would do also. I dressed exactly like her, I walked like her and I talked like her. When I was in 4th grade and she went away to West Point I had my dad set up an obstacle course in the backyard because I decided I was in training for West Point. I wanted to be a paratrooper (everyday I wore a t-shirt that said "My sister is a paratrooper"), I wanted to run marathons and march in parades. I gave in pretty quickly when I realized I could never do a pull up. But I must say I had a damn fine obstacle course set up in my backyard built by my dad, Lt. Col Good! Thanks for trying dad, but athletics just isn't my thing.
She taught me how to be strong in the face of adversity and she taught me how to find so much joy in little things. She was very much a mother to me and very much my support system. Without her example, I would never have known that you can aspire to be anyone you want to be. She showed me that nothing was impossible, and she is right. I owe all of my daring to her. Without her, I would never have had the strength to set off on my own adventures and pave my own path toward happiness. She wrote a poem entitled "If there's a will, there's a way" that hung on her bedroom wall when we were kids. That poem set the course of my life.
She planted me and I grew. She will live on in my spirit as much as she does in all the children she nurtured. Kathryn, Aaron, Elise, and Sebastian (pictured above) carry the essence of Lori and that is the greatest gift that could be bestowed on any child.
As she once wrote to me in a poem, I tell to her now. "I wish you peace, Lori. As you grieve, so do I. As you laugh, twice do I. Peace, love, happiness I wish you too"
I will forever hear her voice of happiness and I will forever hear her voice of pride when I accomplish all the things I set out to do. She was my support and she will continue to keep me strong.
-Lynora Good
In my younger years, everything she did I would do also. I dressed exactly like her, I walked like her and I talked like her. When I was in 4th grade and she went away to West Point I had my dad set up an obstacle course in the backyard because I decided I was in training for West Point. I wanted to be a paratrooper (everyday I wore a t-shirt that said "My sister is a paratrooper"), I wanted to run marathons and march in parades. I gave in pretty quickly when I realized I could never do a pull up. But I must say I had a damn fine obstacle course set up in my backyard built by my dad, Lt. Col Good! Thanks for trying dad, but athletics just isn't my thing.
She taught me how to be strong in the face of adversity and she taught me how to find so much joy in little things. She was very much a mother to me and very much my support system. Without her example, I would never have known that you can aspire to be anyone you want to be. She showed me that nothing was impossible, and she is right. I owe all of my daring to her. Without her, I would never have had the strength to set off on my own adventures and pave my own path toward happiness. She wrote a poem entitled "If there's a will, there's a way" that hung on her bedroom wall when we were kids. That poem set the course of my life.
She planted me and I grew. She will live on in my spirit as much as she does in all the children she nurtured. Kathryn, Aaron, Elise, and Sebastian (pictured above) carry the essence of Lori and that is the greatest gift that could be bestowed on any child.
As she once wrote to me in a poem, I tell to her now. "I wish you peace, Lori. As you grieve, so do I. As you laugh, twice do I. Peace, love, happiness I wish you too"
I will forever hear her voice of happiness and I will forever hear her voice of pride when I accomplish all the things I set out to do. She was my support and she will continue to keep me strong.
-Lynora Good
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