I guess the party isn't here anymore. Not that we've been wanting to party but June 2000 we moved in this house with a party in mind. The basement was to be party central, big screen, ping pong, stereo, PS games, a mans 'grotto' and a kids hang out. On the front wall was the sign directing one and all into the fun, "The party's here!" Now we prepare to prepare to sell our house. We planned to the year you graduated. But feet drag, there was so much going on your senior year, we just never got around to it, then October happened and even though my first response was to sell to anyone 'as is', level heads prevailed and we waited. The 'party' sign is down, we've painted over the wall. The stair rails are back up, we never put them back when me you and dad got that big screen down- do you remember how much we laughed? Dad on the bottom and me and you in charge of keeping the tv from falling on top of him, only to find it 'stuck' 1/2 way down! Well, they're back up and they've painted over the 'marks'. Taking some pictures down so they can paint the wall where we've you and Tara as little ones would manage to scrape, wipe, fall into the walls just going up and down the stairs. Then there's the screen porch. I can't beleive you thought it was a good idea to shoot the pellet gun through the screen at my hummingbird feeder. 3 quarter size holes directly in line with a someone holding a something pointing it at my something! So, I saw the old screen on the porch floor. And it reminded me, but of course, what doesn't. I knew on some level that I'd find myself sad at leaving such a big part of our lives. But I've been focusing so much on not focusing on anything around here for so long, that now I am really seeing things. We've managed to stay here son, but not because we want to. Tara had to change bedrooms, it gives her nightmares to even stay in her old room, even now, maybe especially now. She sleeps in your room and I find your yearbooks pulled out and the guest book from your funeral was on the bed today. On any level that just stinks. We need a fresh start, or at least a different one. I plan to take all the memories we shared as a family but leave the ones since you left. I'm not sure what to do with the 'party' sign.

Very misleading photo Tay, you appear to be smiling but you are actually crying your eyes out! The summer of 93 coming home from Charleston, dad thought you'd like a pony ride from this horse stable. You didn't.