Memorial Day Reflections: National and Personal

I’ve been sitting with a lot of thoughts and emotions today. Sometimes I feel like I have so much to say — and yet no idea what to write. Even on a blog that’s just for me.

Today is Memorial Day — a day set aside to honor those who gave everything for our country. And I want to start by acknowledging how incredibly fortunate we are. We have freedoms many people around the world only dream about.

We can go to school.
We can choose our careers.
We can own homes and cars.
We can vote.
We can speak freely.
We can practice the religion of our choice — or none at all.
We have access to medical care and clean water.

The list goes on and on. And it’s all possible because of the sacrifices of others. Thank you doesn’t feel like enough, but it’s what we have — and I say it with sincerity.

Today was also a different kind of Memorial Day. A personal one for our family.

Today, my nephew Jordan would have turned 16.

To commemorate the day, my sister sent cards to each of the cousins. Inside were photos of Jordan, a beautiful poem she wrote, and a gift card for Takis and Dr. Pepper — his favorite snacks. It was sweet, funny, and heartbreaking all at once.

Jordan died in a bicycle accident on the afternoon of February 15, 2024. He was crossing a two-lane highway to visit a friend when he was hit by a car. He had been told not to do that exact thing. But he did it anyway. And it cost him everything.

February 15th is already a hard day for our family. My brother — not Jordan’s father — took his own life on February 15, 2017. We were already bracing ourselves this year. When my sister called, I assumed she was calling to talk about him. It never crossed my mind another tragedy had struck our family. At that point, we only knew Jordan had been injured. It was my mom who sent the text that broke something in me:

“He died.”

Just two words. But they changed everything.
That Jordan would pass on the same date as my brother — it feels surreal, cruel, cosmic. I don’t know what it means, if anything. But I know I’ll never think of that day the same again.

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As for the rest of life… I didn’t make much progress on my projects last week. The boxes. The photos. The clutter I keep saying I’ll organize. They’re still waiting for me. But I’m committed to starting this week. Even just a little.

The one bright spot? I’m almost finished with my Christmas stocking. It’s small, but it’s something. And today, something is enough.