I think I’ve been avoiding writing this post… that somehow it makes it more real when I’m writing on this blog instead of her. An imposter on her realm.

As many of you doubtlessly know by now, Shannon passed away on the afternoon of Tuesday, September 22nd, 2015 after a nearly four-and-a-half year battle with cancer.

It feels odd. I’m still unsettled. Trying to go about my day and my routine the same as I did. We (those in daily contact with Shannon) had grown accustomed to a constant state of heightened awareness to Shannon. Trying to gauge her state of health and needs… Reading into the signs of her illness… a growing sense of inevitability eating away at us. I still feel the tenseness in my body not yet ready to surrender the vigilance it has kept for so long.

And yet, it was time. By Shannon’s own admission. She was done fighting, done feeling the pain. She didn’t want to go. To leave her family behind, but she knew there was nothing left to be done. She loved and fought for what she loved fiercely. She cared, so much, about those around her. She leaves that love, that compassion, that community inspired by her to continue helping those around us. To raise a daughter to find her way in the world. Surrounded by love and those her mother brought together through her amazing gifts.

I’m not sure what the future holds. I’m simply living one day at a time for now, but I will do my best to continue to write and share as the lives of those she leaves behind unfold. If there’s anything she taught me it’s the power of writing not just for the audience, but for the writer. The cathartic flow of thoughts and ideas spilling onto the page in a desperate attempt to try and make sense of this world we live in.

We invite you to celebrate and remember Shannon on Saturday, October 3rd @ 1:30 PM (Mountain Time) @ Capitol Heights Presbyterian Church, 1100 Fillmore St., Denver, CO 80206

All are welcome with a reception to follow.

Realtime streaming and on-demand viewing can be found at

www.comf5.com/live/live-connections