Katie's Poem

Thursday morning about 4:00 a.m. I awoke from a dream about trying to find Katie and came up with this poem dedicated to Mike, Dawn, and Jessie.

Why Katie?
Mike and Dawn remember Katie,
their beautiful petite little daughter,
the daughter that gave them grief
and gave them love.
"Drive carefully Katie,"
the same thing we've all told our teens,
but accidents happen, don't they?

Why Katie?
Jessie remembers Katie,
the little sister who needed a ride,
bugged her big sister,
shared secrets, and told stories to.

Why Katie?
Her friends remember Katie,
a fun girl, always with a smile,
but tough when she had to be.
If you needed a ride, a place to stay,
or just shoulder, Katie was always there.

Why Katie?
I remember Katie,
as a girl that always smiled and waved,
even if she was hanging with her friends,
when it's not cool to wave at adults.

Why Katie?
4-H remembers Katie,
showing her goats, playing softball,
and enjoying her animals,
but most of all White Eagle 4-H camp.
The campers and staff remember Katie,
donating her time to help kids.

Why Katie?
Her parents, sisters, family, friends,
and the whole community of Morrison
remember and miss Katie.

(by Barb Benson, Guest Columnist)