…in Trinidad I met someone who wanted to tattoo a symbol of this on his body. He had an interesting and unique view on human existence, believing that we all have infinite beginnings. Some of you may not know, but 3 1/2 years ago my only sibling was killed in a car accident. She was traveling from DC to NY on the I-95, singing along to the radio in a friends car. While the car she was riding in stopped at a toll booth, the car behind kept barreling forward. The driver never hit the breaks – quite literally crashing right into her, completely annihilating the backseat she was sitting in. Infinite beginnings, huh? At first it felt like we both died.
I am personally toying with the idea of heaven, but maybe she’s rocking it up there, traveling to even more glorious places than she visited on Earth. Maybe she has moved up in the caste system and has been born into royalty – although this may not be moving up in her eyes, she already thought she was royalty!
Meg, like all of us, was constantly changing and developing as a person. Depending on how you interpret beginnings, perhaps I saw many of them. I was a benefactor when she developed a love for travel, in awe when she became a successful business woman, and envious when she began a beautiful relationship with the man she was going to spend the rest of her life with.
As I type, with tears streaming down my face, I’m realizing how both her life and death have taught me to enjoy the infinite beginnings. I challenge you to do the same. Take a risk, get out of the same old routine, live your dreams, and enjoy every second of it!
Wow…that was so well thought out and written Allie. I can't stop crying nor thanking God that I have met you.
Thanks for sharing Allie. Reliving the pain isn't easy but can help the healing process.
oh wow. I just ran across your blog and am hit with the sad news of your sister. So sorry to hear about her. Congrats on NACAC's btw
Allie, what a beautifully heartwrenching post. I've always admired both you and your mom for how you handled the news of meg's death and i continue to look to you when i need strength. you epitomize what it takes to create a new beginning, starting from scratch, and finding success. miss you!
Aww Allie!! You never cease to amaze me!! You are such a great person! I love you so much!
Megan was such an amazing woman. I appreciate the time I got to know her our last year of college as she'd come to visit DC frequently then. She was always so nice. You've developed such a great perspective on how you remember your sister, and how you cope with that loss/ beginnings.. She'll always be remembered and I'm sure lives on in your personality and actions too.
Thanks for all the comments! I am still constantly thinking about Meg and learning to deal with the loss of her. Thank you all for being so supportive and helpful during my on-going process.
Incredible post. Very inspiring, to say the least. Congrats on all your recent success 🙂
Here I was jogging from East Falls Church metro. I took the Custis Trail and passed Glebe Road. I ran towards Spout Run but just before reaching there, I was drawn by a black bench overlooking a pond and facing Route 66. I walked towards it to sit down and noticed the plaque. Simple but profound–it read "Meghan Keiffer". I was curious as I jogged there many times and wanted to know, who was this Meghan Keiffer that had a chair dedicated to her. This was about 2 months ago and today I went jogging with my house mate and I told her about Meghan Keiffer and how much I want to google her and see why her name was there. Now I know. My heart breaks. So beautiful. Now I try to remember if I ever saw her on the trail jogging… I wonder… Still, as a mom of a 3.5 year old, I am not sure I would have the courage and strength I see displayed by your mom and you–life presents many challenges and I hope that for the years that I have, that I may live to the fullest, those infinite beginnings with courage and aplomb, that come my way– God Bless You. YOu are a source of encouragement and strength…
Thanks for sharing, I'm glad her bench is getting some notice! My mom is an amazing, strong, kind woman. I honestly don't know how I would have handled this misfortune without her. Enjoy life and teach your little one the same, maybe some day I'll be reading a blog about you!
Nads: Just saw this the other day. Thanks. If you go by the bench again soon please let me know if the daffodils I planted are in bloom. They should be coming up among the trees just beyond the bench, close to the pond and a bit further west. Thanks again. Barbara (Allie and Meg's mom)
Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your point.
You obviously know what youre talking about,
why waste your intelligence on just posting videos too your blog when you could
be giving us something informative to read?
How is that true? I have one video, yet 100 blog posts.