Death is special.
Wait, what?
Death is special?
You're probably asking that, right?
Well, when it turns into new life, yes.
On March 30, 1997, I welcomed a tiny Netherland Dwarf rabbit into my life. I had always loved animals but never had one of my own. I was allergic to cats and wanted a dog but living in an apartment with a big dog (which is what I longed for) would not be fair. So I grabbed my partner in crime - my dear grandmother - and off to Arlington we went.
There were about eight bunnies left and I instantly knew which one I wanted. His fur reminded me of the colors of coffee and cream swirling in a cup. He had a twitching nose with a white mark just right of center and huge brown eyes with upright adorable antenna ears. He was active, so very active that he jumped onto my shoulder! I was told he was spoken for but if I really wanted him, he was mine. I took Bayley home with me that day and he became the absolute first love of my life. We would share eight wonderfully fun and loving years together.
Why is this so special? Bayley was born on February 10, 1997.....the exact day that Bill died.
The first, and only, mentor I ever had in my local government career, Bill Hughes, groaned about having to go to a weekly meeting as he greeted me that morning on his way out of the office. Less than an hour later, I received a call from Mike Conner that my incredible boss and friend had been found collapsed in the bathroom and was being taken to Alexandria Hospital. He had a brain hemorrhage and was on life support until his daughters arrived. What? This can't be real. How did this happen? I just saw him! Devastated at the age of 23 in my first "real" job, I rushed to the hospital to be by his side. It was there I met his beautiful wife, Rayda, for the first and only time. My heart was broken for her, for me and for all whose lives were changed and enriched by this amazing man in his 65 years on Earth.
I was honored to have been his assistant for only eight months. Our time was cut short but I will never forget the trust he had in me from the start. When others didn't want to take a chance on me, he had faith in me and I was so grateful. In less than a year, Bill instilled so many values in me and taught me so much about people and life. He encouraged me and motivated me. I would never have made it as far as I did (or survived the CMO) in my local government career without his honesty, guidance and wisdom.
There are moments and people in our lives that resonate and leave an impact like no other. Twenty-eight years have passed, my local government career has (gratefully) ended and Bill is still the one who is standing tall at the top of my professional and personal mountain of influential and genuine souls. I love you, sir. Thank you for being a part of my journey.
Bill and Bayley. They both had such an undeniable impact on my life-one for only 8 months and one for only 8 years. As my dear mentor and friend took his last breath, my darling boy took his first breath.
In a short eight months, Bill taught this young, eager, vulnerable, right-out-of-college girl a lot about people and life in general….things that I carried with me throughout my entire local government career….and still reflect back on even now. Bayley taught me determination, commitment, the meaning of joy, that the epitome of love came in a 3lb package and that my devotion toward him had no end.
There are no coincidences in this life, my friends. Everything happens exactly as it is supposed to according to our soul’s plan. Today, I celebrate them both and am forever grateful they were part of my journey and that I was able to be part of theirs.
