"Let's get lost"

January 7th, 2008, I was flying back to Florida Southern for the second semester of my freshman year... I remember being so excited to get back to school and see everyone.  When I landed I got a few calls from a few of my teammates and my athletic trainer.  They all said the same thing.  First they asked,"Where are you?" I told them, and then they said come see me right when you get back to campus.  I did not think anything of it; I thought everyone just missed me and was excited to see me.  When I pulled into school Brian, our athletic trainer was right there to meet me and he hit me with some of the most horrific words I have ever heard.  He said, "The twins (Melissa and Meghan Kelly) got into a car accident; Melissa is in the hospital and Meghan past away..." Now it is four years later, my heart still aches and I just don't
understand.  I still ask the question "Why?"

 
I am always a little down this time of year but I started reminisce on some of the great times I had with Meghan and I thought about our Colorado trip my Freshman year.  I traveled to Colorado with my team without a cent in my bank account and I had the greatest experience.  Materialistically I had absolutely nothing, but I felt as if I was living like a rich person. I was always given incredible food, had amazing places to stay, I got to go to the Olympic training center, the garden of the gods,  explore Denver, and I got to experience it with a team that turned into a family.

I went on my facebook and I looked at all the pictures of my team in Colorado and I just smiled as I went through each one.  On one of my Colorado pictures Meghan posted a comment; she said "Jackie lets get lost..." When we got to Denver, my coach let us go out on our own; no one knew where to go so I said, "lets get lost and see what we find." We started to explore and we found some of the greatest places.  "Lets get lost" became the slogan Meghan and I had all throughout Colorado.  We got lost and saw sites that I felt like I would only see on TV or in a magazine.

There are times now, that I feel lost in my own life.. But I think being lost is good. Something great could find you or who knows what you will find or discover. So today in honor of Meghan I am going to go to New York City and "get lost" I have my train ticket and I am going to see what adventure the day will bring me.  I wont be alone, I know she will be right there with me. 

I am so grateful for the time I had with Meghan; I would not trade that time for anything and I would give anything to have her back here. My teammates and friends at Florida Southern are incredible people.  We really held each other up, we were a shoulder to cry on and pulled through as one. I don't know where I would be without them. I miss everyone that I am not with right now.  I think about you all the time and I am so grateful that I am apart of such a great family. Life is so short and I should say this more often but to all my teammates, friends and family  I want you to know that you mean so much to me. I love you all!