In Memory of My Friend Adele

So I lost a good friend on Monday. My friend Adele lost her life after a freak car accident. She was one of my best friends in high school--we were wild & crazy on so many occasions. I had lost contact w/her throughout the college years, but reconnected about a year ago & just talked to her this weekend. She recently became engaged to her very long-term boyfriend & was so excited about planning her wedding (on the beach). Several people have commented that she was happier in the last month of her life than she has been in a long time, so I'm glad to know she lived life to the fullest while she was still with us on earth.

I remember Adele's infectious laugh, our rebellious band behavior ("I can see clearly now that Byron's gone") & her teaching me how to play modified "beer pong" (with dixie cups & "hard liquor"! lol!). I went on several mini-vacations w/her, shopped until we dropped, and had chick flick nights frequently. Adele got me to do so many things I never would have tried to do on my own, but made me a better person for trying it & stepping out of my comfort zone. She had confidence and a bold personality that you certainly could not forget.

Her death is the 3rd of people I know from high school that happened in the past 18 months. My friend since kindergarten, Jeremiah Eisenhower, died last January from a car accident & another elementary school friend Josh Pennington died in a motorcycle accident last month. Josh's fiancé, Kristin Skowood--whom I went to school with since pre-first grade, was hurt in that same accident and has a long road to recovery. That's the thing about growing up in a small community & going to a small school--you know everyone & have relationships & memories with everyone there. I am ready for a break from people I know getting hurt or killed in car accidents. So please remember to always wear your seatbelt & drive safely. My friends died because of other driver's careless driving, so you always have to think of the other drivers out there.

I was just thinking of how she survived a sledding accident in 2003 where she broke her jaw & had to have brain surgery to remove a blood clot.  She was such a fighter.  So strong.

Just hard to believe that Adele's actually gone. I have been trying to distract myself with laundry & busy work, but I just can get her off of my mind. She will be missed so much!! Keeping her family, friends & fiancé Jayson in your prayers if you can.

R.I.P. Adele Elaine Bitler 09/10/83-08/16/10

Here's a scanned picture of me (left) & Adele (right) from 2001 she sent. We did those "old time photos" at the beach during our week down at Ocean City, MD. Not the best pic, but the memories from that trip I'll keep with me forever!