In loving memory of our beautiful angel Shirley Ann Smith, December 2, 1982 - September 8, 2006

I write this to you our angel on this anniversary of the night you were so tragically taken from us. There are no words to say what this past year has done to our family circle. We all try to get up and function everyday knowing that you are no longer a physical presence in our life. The silent tears that flow, the ache in our hearts, the pain that we carry with us everyday, no one should ever have to feel. I know that you know that we love and miss you more than words can say. The ones that were with you in the car that night go on with their lives as if nothing happened, unaffected because their family, their loved ones are still with them. They can't begin to fathom the loss we now endure. They can put this tragedy behind them because the love they claim to have had for you will be no more than a fleeting memory, as they have moved on. A freak accident they call it, but we know it was more than that. It was a race, a thrill ride, that ended with you the passenger, the victim! So who actually won the race that night? At last only the good Lord, you, and those involved know what occurred.

We can only say that when they close their eyes at night they envision what went on and know that they changed our world forever! All that is left for us are visits to the cemetery on birthdays, holidays and special occasions, instead of you being with us like it should have been. Pictures and cards we come across, that bring instant pain and tears, and the question, why you? But the answer never comes. I guess the good Lord must have needed another angel. So we are forced to go on because we know you are with us in spirit and that is what you would have wanted us to do. People say time will heal, but obviously they have never experienced this kind of loss, for the longer you are gone the more you're missed! The only thing we know though is that everyday that we are here without you is one more day we are closer to being together with you again. Until that time, may God keep you in His loving care for we all will be together again someday!