Jen.

My friend Jen and I met thirteen years ago through a mutual friend at a Star Wars convention here in Denver. She was the only girl I knew around my age who was as big of a Star Wars dork as I was and we instantly hit it off. She fueled my addiction by periodically sending me extra collectibles she had and getting more autographs for me to add to my collection. After she won a Star Wars trivia contest on Total Request Live and got swordfighting lessons from Ray Park (and also went to see Episode I with ‘N Sync, which I teased her a lot for as neither of us were fans of them), she put together all the pictures of herself at various Star Wars events and sent me copies in an envelope labeled, “The Vicarious Adventures of Reb.” We were sometimes mistaken for each other, so she thought it was fitting. She was beautiful and amazing and so generous.

The anniversary of her death is this Friday and when I saw the Shutter Sisters One Word Project Prompt for today (pictures), I knew I would be pulling that old envelope out.

I miss her still.

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