**The intent of this blog was to go in one direction but it ended up going another. Due to the chaotic nature of wedding celebrations, I did not get the opportunity to share my very personal reasoning for my decision to travel nearly across the country.**

Late last month I had the privilege of traveling West to California for the best reason ever, Love. It started in the Fall with a postcard from an adored younger cousin to announce her love for another. The wedding would be February 24, 2013. There would be no question that I would travel from Ohio to Southern California for this wedding. There were two reasons why I wanted to go to the wedding, this cousin is special to me and the date is of great significance to me.

My cousin is special to me for she was born the day after my 18th birthday; a day that started with an upset stomach followed by a major presentation & military parade for a J.R.O.T.C. general inspection then ending with a final exam in Calculus. So when the news came the next day of a new family member, I was very happy. Even though she was born and raised in California, I enjoyed hearing about her through as many sources as possible but mostly through her grandmother (my aunt). Without question, Anna is a beloved cousin to me from day one.

I was aware she was dating Justin but when the postcard announcing their engagement arrived I was pleasantly surprised. The date of Sunday, February 24, 2013 popped out to me. They could have not picked a better day, a day of love and peace.

On Sunday, February 24, 2002 as I was arriving to work, I received a call informing me that my brother Bill had collapsed at church. I was fortunate to have friends searching near my workplace for a home that day. I called them and they came; one drove me to the hospital and the other drove my manual transmission car behind us. When I arrived at the hospital; the severity of the collapse came to light, a possible brain aneurism.

I remember my mother was in the emergency room with Bill until he was taken to surgery. After 45 minutes into the surgery, the surgeon walked into the waiting room filled with family and friends. He informed us that the aneurism was massive; there wasn’t anything more he could do as a surgeon. He advised us there would be tests conducted on Monday to determine the status of Bill’s brain. On Monday, February 25, 2002 at 12:00 p.m. Bill was declared brain dead. As a seminary student, we knew if Bill had a chance to help others, he would. So we began the process of donating his organs.

The memory of that loss is still apparent but what is even nearer and closer to my heart is the love demonstrated by friends and a peace that mended a long time rift between two people that found out they did have one thing in common, loss of my brother.

The simplicity of a postcard announcing the engagement of two beautiful souls that unknowingly chose a day that is already full of love, made the decision to witness the occasion a very easy one.