On April 24, 2008, my sister Debbie was killed in a car accident. I won’t go into details, but it was just a freak accident where Debbie just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Debbie was the oldest of us three siblings; she was 46.
Living so far away, I wasn’t able to see Debbie as often as I’d like, and we didn’t talk as often as I’d like, either. But we both know that we loved each other, and we always had a good time when the family got together. Debbie became an incredible woman through the years. I knew that; but I’ve also come to learn more about how incredible she was through hearing what everyone had to say about her these past 2 weeks.
Debbie loved to laugh (all of us Lehrians do), and she always had a smile on her face. Even when things weren’t going well, she smiled. The quote on the right is the one we had up with her pictures at the memorial service – her daughter Christy found it.
You know the saying – “Don’t sweat the small stuff (and it’s all small stuff).” Well, she lived that saying. She never worried about the small stuff; whatever it was, she just always said “it’s going to be alright.”
Debbie also accepted people just as they were. No pretenses. No judgment. She didn’t care if you were a drunk, had money, education, fashionable clothes, anything. She accepted you just as you are. And she never held a grudge. I think everyone could use a little more of her spirit. There were about 400 people at her memorial service, and the diversity of the crowd was a tribute to Debbie. She touched so many different people in so many ways.
I know that I am a better person today for having known Debbie; for her just being herself. And for that, Debbie, I thank you so much. It’s still hard for me to believe you’re gone, but I know that you are in a better place and I’ll see you again. I love you, and I know that you love me, too. Even though I didn’t get to see you as often as I’d like, I miss you. But I know that even now you’re trying to tell us “it’s going to be alright.”
