Sadness, Joy & Hope

I have oft heard it said that the most devastating thing any parent can face is having to bury their own child. If there really is a natural order of things, it is that children are supposed to outlive their parents, not the other way around.

This past week brought and to many people in Novato and beyond. Kimi Augusto was only 20 years old when she died in a crash early Tuesday morning on Highway 101 just north of Novato.

While sitting in the church waiting for the celebration of I was trying to imagine what I would do at such a memorial if it were my son or daughter who had died. I have no idea what the answer would be, but I do hope that I would somehow find a way to display the strength and grace the Augusto family displayed.

It was an honor to be a witness to what they shared with us about Kimi and what they taught us about moving forward with courage and the celebration of life. My heart goes out to the Augustos, and I hope that their pain will ease as quickly as it can.

Later that day I attended a student dance recital put on by . Even though my daughter has graduated and no longer dances with co-owners Kate and Debbie at Rhythms, I still like to attend their shows because they are as much about celebrating life as they are about the mechanics of dance. While it is certain that each of the students get some of the best dance training available in Marin County, they also get much more. Kate and Debbie are just as interested in the development of the dancers' hearts and it comes through in their .

The packed crowd at Kimi's funeral was a testament to the number of hearts touched by Kimi and her family. The packed crowd at the Rhythms dance recital was a testament to the number of hearts touched by Kate, Debbie and all the teachers, students and parents involved with Rhythms. The fact that so many people were able to attend both events on the same day is a testament to our willingess to move forward with hope even in these times of sadness.