Memories

I woke up from a bittersweet dream this past Sunday morning. I had gotten to hug sweet beautiful grinning Melissa while I slept that Saturday night. It was one of those dreams that was SO real and so vivid that I woke up in a panic worried it would be gone the second I tried to grasp at its receding threads.

The intro to the dream wasn’t all that interesting…I was working a long day at the hospital. People I was working with were talking about someone outside protesting (this lines up with political protests that had happened that Saturday morning in Wausau…to somewhat clarify my brains context). No one really said much, just that someone was out there protesting.

I must’ve been between procedures so I walked to the main entrance of the hospital and walked out the doors. And there standing at the bottom of some steps was Melissa! Grinning ear to ear. In her teal winter jacket…clear as day. I ran up to her and she was laughing and I gave her the BIGGEST and TIGHTEST squeeze of a hug and held her and said “I miss you.” She was laughing and she almost dismissively said “I know. But I’m right here…?” We both laughed. I said wow it’s been SO long and she laughed and agreed.

That’s when I realized she didn’t really look like she was protesting…no signs or megaphones or anything dramatically “in opposition.” Startlingly she had a piece of masking tape on the left side of her jacket, over her heart, that had a sharpie-drawn smiley face. Super small. But I noticed it. It was so random and so Melissa. Writing about it now probably makes me think it could’ve easily come from one of her kiddos from Thailand or South Korea. Maybe just stuck to her accidentally…but I really don’t think so.

And in 2025 isn’t a “self-made masking tape sharpie-drawn smiley face sticker-in-place-of-a-name-tag” the ultimate sign of protest there could be?

And that was the dream! So thanks for the visit Mel B. I miss you terribly. I hope you know your memories and spirit and STORY (as your lovely mom called it) are still brightening my days. I am so lucky to be your friend.

April 10th sucks but you spent a lot more “April 10ths” living and writing your story than having it come to a close. Love you so so so so so much. 🖤