Collection of moments…

I’m not a huge fan of This Is Us.

Yeah, I said it! 😂

But when I saw the promo video for the final episode earlier this year, it took my breath away. Because this snippet right here is what I consider my new life mission.

In March of 2021, my grandmother passed away, and although we still miss her dearly, we take solace in the fact that she lived to the age of 90 and had a very full life. Fast forward to November and my older cousin – in his mid 40s – died unexpectedly. He was a head coach of a high school football team. After attending the fall sports banquet celebrating his players, he went to the hospital because his legs were numb. And he was gone just a few hours later. That led me to re-evaluate some things.

Like how I could start living for “Deathbed Deanna” – asking myself what future me wishes I was doing right now. And it would be collecting memories, as many as possible. So I take my work as an event professional seriously – creating memorable moments and experiences for attendees. And I take my social media/blog presence seriously – the fun and lightheartedness is purposeful, to provide an oasis in your feed and encourage YOU to make more memorable moments.

Hattie Cunningham had the gift of hospitality – she didn’t know a stranger, everyone was welcome in her home and she adopted many friends into our family.

Sonil Haslam dedicated his life to giving back to others, inspiring them to be better people – one of his favorite phrases was “Carpe Diem”.

So I honor both of their memories, accordingly. 🕊