I recently received news from my parents that a close friend of the family passed away recently. I’m devastated by the news of the passing of Cheryl Holt, a close friend of the family with whom I’ve shared great memories.

My parents met the Holts during a vacation to Hawaii, back when I was 5 or 6 (and shortly after the birth of my brother, Ben.) Labor Day weekends visits from the Holts became an annual ritual for our family, up until very recently, when we received news that Cheryl had gotten sick. One of the last two times I saw Cheryl was shortly after she had hip replacement surgery (I believe) a few years back when they visited. We went to the Minnesota State Fair that weekend. Then, the last time I saw her was at my brother’s wedding (summer 2006.) Little did I realize that was the last time I was ever going to see her.

I remember spending the occasional weekend with the Holt family outside of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, growing up, listening to Billy Joel records (The Nylon Curtain and An Innocent Man) on their gigantic phonograph stereo system back in the mid-80’s. In my 100 Things About Me post, I mentioned my memory of buying the first 45 record with my own money (most likely, allowance money my parents gave me), Asia’s hit single, Heat of the Moment. That 45 was purchased at their old Gambel’s store.

As with death in general, I’m at a complete loss for words. My heart goes out to Cheryl’s husband, Jim, and her children, Sherry, Sheryl, and Amy during their time of grief. R.I.P., Cheryl. You will be missed.