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- Megan Ann Blong
- Born July 26, 1981 in Atlanta, GA
- Died April 6, 1999 in Kill Devil Hills, NC
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- ME, MEGAN, "THE GIVING TREE"
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- I was a tree
- deeply rooted in the rich soil.
- My branches were many
- and they grew outwardly,
- reaching from the center of my universe to embrace family
- and friends,
- for they were what mattered the most in my life.
- I learned early
- as a young sapling
- that the greatest lessons in life came from the people closest to me
- and everyone had something to offer;
- some kind of passion, lesson, or energy
- that I could combine with my own.
- So I watched and absorbed.
- Learning from everyone,
- taking in all that people offered to me
- and then offering it back in the ways in which I knew how.
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- From Mom I learned about the beauty of art.
- From Dad I learned to define religion and find it's place in my life.
- My big brother Jimmy taught me about the appreciation of fitness and
sport.
- From my sister Katie, I learned how to truly listen; with my ears..
- and my heart.
- Mo, my sister, my soulmate, showed me the beauty of friendship.
- And my younger sister Elizabeth taught me the responsibility of being
a role
- model, and I learned to do so without taking myself too seriously.
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- For all of these gifts I was grateful;
- a part of each member of my family was a part of me.
- I thrived, growing and growing into a stronger tree.
- Each passing season brought out something new.
- I was a kaleidoscope of personality.
- My perspective on life refreshing and unique.
- I loved the world and all that it had to offer.
- People were my sunshine, laughter was my oxygen and smiles my water.
- My life was full and happy.
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- I am grateful that I was born with a heart that didn't judge
- because it allowed me to see all, know all, and share with all
- not one moment of my life slipped away.
- I saw rainbows when it thunderstormed, and stars dancing when it was
dark out
- I respected and opened my heart up to everyone;
- the young, the old, the privileged, and the challenged.
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- My friend and family made me smile so much!
- They would watch me dance in the kitchen, listen to my silly accents,
- let me decorate the house for no reason at all, sing with me in the
car,
- and tell me about the special moments of their day!
- They shared with me all of my favorite things:
- gummy bears, peppermint patties, thrift clothes shopping,
- and Sunday movies at the Ritz.
- They let me express my individuality when I:
- bobby pinned my hair, wore T-Shirts that had holes in them,
- made my own greeting cards, and watched Charles Kuralt on Sunday mornings.
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- It's for all of you that were a part of my life
- that I want to take this moment
- to say "Thanks!"
- for letting me be me
- no matter who I chose to be!
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- Each and every one of you enriched the soil of my world.
- And it is the reflection of your faces that I see
- when I look in the mirror of my life.
- It was you who filled my branches
- with leaves of memories
- that are scattered in the forest of your lives.. forever.
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- I want to say that I am sorry for the sadness you felt
- on that tragic day
- when a drunk driver chopped me down
- before the ring of my 18th birthday could be completed.
- And although she took away my physical smile
- no person, big or small
- can take away my spirit
- a spirit that still has the chance to live.. through all that you do.
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- What I ask
- is that my death not be in vain
- and that you seek to find some purpose
- some reason
- some good that can come from it.
- Because as my spirit left my body
- it grabbed a handful of seeds from the buds on my branches
- and planted them in the depths of your souls
- and from my seeds good things will come,
- as long as that is what you believe!
- I learned very early in my life:
- "If you believe in yourself, anything is possible"
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- Please don't let my death consume you!
- Instead thrive off of what we shared during our times together.
- Live your life with my spirit in mind.
- And just like I learned from observing you,
- I hope that you are able to take something from me
- to carry with you forever.
- Because you see, it is through you
- that I will be able to continue living and loving
- and embracing the world
- with the strong branches of my "Giving Tree".
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