We Are The In Crowd signing

So as you may or may not know, I have been living in Florida. And living here has brought a lot of awesome experiences, like the one I'm going to tell you about today (the story isn't too long so don't click that x button just yet). So a few months ago one of my favorite bands, We Are The In Crowd, was doing a signing at Zumiez at one of the local malls here by my apartment building. Well me and a girl who I've become pretty good friends with over the last few months found out about the WATIC signing via Facebook (it was actually good for something, I know shocker) and since the band was only going to do like 300 signing we decided to leave and try to be at the mall before it opened so we knew for sure we had a spot in line and that we were getting that signed poster (we were determined). We got to the mall at like 9:00am thinking we had the right location, well we didn't. We ended up waiting for about 2 or 3 hours before we thought to ask someone if the signing was happening or not (there was one at the place we were at but it happened the day before) but luckily we still had plenty of time and the other location wasn't but about 10 minutes away from where we were. After finding out we had the wrong location we literally booked it to where we were suppose to be, and some how managed to find a parking stop that was very close where the store was (the parking lot was literally so full we thought about just making our own parking space), but we somehow got lucky. We ran to find the store and sure enough when we turned the corner, we saw the line. The signing started at 1:00pm and we probably made it there by about 12 and to our surprise, the line had maybe 20 people in it.. Now I know that WATIC isn't a very big band in the music scene here (I'm not sure why though because they are amazing) and that fact that the signing was on a Sunday, but I thought that at least 100 people would have shown instead of maybe 30. While we were waiting on the band to get there, the people hosting the event had so much going on the pass the time, (there twerking contests, rap battles, random questions, whatever you can think of and who ever won got free stuff), they made the wait in line, in the heat pretty fun. WATIC showed up and everyone who was waiting was excited. We went through the line and got the poster they had signed by each member and Tay told me she liked my shift (I had bought the Weird Kids shirt by Glamour Kills earlier that day at the other location) and I took some pretty stalker like pictures of the band (we weren't allowed to take pictures with the band for whatever reason) and waited around for a bit and then snuck a picture with Jordan (shhh don't tell). And after that it was time for us to head back and start getting ready for work. WATIC was playing a show here in Orlando that night, but sadly due to work I couldn't go. But now that they are playing Warped Tour, I will be seeing them in a few months and I'm so excited! Who knows, maybe I'll be able to get a picture with the whole band this time.. (:

Make it a sweet goodbye.

The day started out like any other. I woke up, ate breakfast, and started to get ready for the day. Little did anyone know that our lives would drastically change in a matter of minutes with one phone call...

As I went to get ready to take a shower, my mom received a phone a call. I could hear her talking in the disbelief tone of voice, trying so hard to keep her composure. I ran into the room my mom was in to try to get some information of what was going on. When I reached my mom, she had tears streaming down her face, gasping for air. I assumed the worst, thinking it was about my dad. I was able to calm my mom down enough for her to say "Dawn....dead". With this news, I took a breathe of relief, thankful nothing had happened to my dad, but heart broken about her friend. Trying my best to keep my composure, I told my mom to get dressed and we'll go to the hospital and find out what exactly is going on. Maybe something got lost in translation and someone is making the situation worse than it actually is. We got dressed as fast as we could, my mom was in no condition to drive so I grabbed my keys and we left for the hospital. Driving as fast and safe as I could, we arrived at the hospital just before 11:30AM. We made our way to the ER so we could find the family. Once we found the family, the next order of business was finding out what exactly happened. The time was maybe 11:35AM when we found out that our family friend had indeed passed away. Family and friends gathered in the hallway, crying and wondering why. We all just wanted answers. She was so young, but the only thing anyone could think of was that God has called her home to His kingdom. But the weird thing is, just this past Monday she was out running and doing her every day activities with no problems, and this morning there was no sign of anything wrong. Se had taken the dog out and got short of breath so she went back in and used her asthma inhaler, which according to her husband didn't really help much. The ambulance was called and by the time they had arrived, she was gone. We don't know all the details just yet but from the looks of it, we think she passed of a heart attack.

We went back to her room and saw her her just lying there lifelessly. It was so hard to see my mom in the state she was in at that very moment. Seeing my mom hold her dead friend's hand and begging her to just simply wake up, is something I don't think I'll ever be able to forget. Me and mom went over to the family's house to be with them during this hard time. No one really knows what to do, we all keep thinking that she's going to walk through the door wondering why so many people are in her house. Nothing is ever going to be the same. The days my mom walks into work and her not being there to great her, the days I go to visit mom and her coworkers and she not be there, nothing will ever be the same. Even her family at Christmas time will never be the same, just a constant reminder that she will not be there with them to enjoy her family opening their gifts and seeing the excitement on their face. Mom is upset about the whole situation, wishing for just a few minutes with her so she could talk to her. We'll get through this hard time as the time passes but for right now, if any of you out there reading this is religious, please pray for all the families affected by this.  

*A few days later*

The funeral was beautiful but gloomy. Knowing she was only a year or two younger than my mom and still had so much in life to come, it was hard to lay her body to rest.We learned that it was a blood clot in her lung. She was such a beautiful lady and will be missed greatly. She could light up a room with one little phrase or simply just by flashing a smile. Rest in peace dear friend, we love you and miss you so much. 

*A few months later* 
Her family is still finding it hard to come to reality with the death of our dear friend. My mom tells me everyday how her children come to her explaining how they just want their mom back. They do know she is in a better place now though, but even that being said it does not make the pain they fell any less painful. Losing a loved one is not easy on any one. My mom seems to be doing a lot better though. Even though she lost a dear friend she seems as if she has accepted what happened. It is still hard though, walking in the class room and not seeing her welcoming face but that's just something new to get use to, if we will ever get use to it..