Eulogy

What can I say about Julia?  I feel like one day I looked over in division and she was there, and the next the desk was empty.  We didn't know each other all that long, but for the short time we did, I came to know a lot about her.  So, when I learned that she had perished in the mountains of Guatemala during a ferocious battle against a rabid honey badger I can't say I was surprised.  I knew her eventual demise would be the result of her stupid selflessness.  She always acted without thinking of the consequences in order to benefit others.  That's just the person she is.  So when I learned she had saved an innocent family of native groundhogs from an insane, famished, froth-mouthed honey badger I was not surprised at all.  I heard detailed recounts about how she "valiantly reached into open mouth of the honey badger, lined by razor sharp, jagged two inch long teeth to retrieve a shaking yet thankfully unharmed groundhog youngling from it's throat" and thought to myself 'that's my Julia!'.  No, I cannot say I was surprised by the way she died.  I was only surprised by how early it came.  She was so young.   I feel like one day I looked over in division and she was there, and the next the desk was empty.  The girl I had come to know and love in such a short time was now gone.  But I have come here, not to describe her tragic death, and say things that have already been said.  I have not come here to mourn that empty seat but to celebrate the life of the person that used to sit in it.

I asked myself, 'where do I start, there's so much to say'?  Well I guess all things have a beginning and that is where I will begin.  Julia and I were in the same division for over 3 years.  The first couple years we didn't talk much and I knew very little about her.  Actually, my first impression was that she was a very quiet person who believed she was better than everyone else and couldn't even bother talking to others her age.  But when I finally did start striking up conversations with her I realized she was just shy and actually had quite a lot to say.  One day early junior year, we got fliers advertising gallery 37 during division.  I jokingly asked if she wanted to do a painting after school program with me expecting "oh, I wish I could, but I'm busy with school, and life, etc.", but to my surprise she was very interested and eventually agreed to do it.  That simple yes changed our lives.  The spring we spent more time together than either of us had bargained for, talking and painting and getting to know each other.  But as time went on we both grew to love each other.  The road wasn't easy, there were some fights and frustration, but there was also lots of learning and laughing and I can say today I miss her with all my heart.  I can only hope that Julia is looking down from somewhere smiling and laughing and crying along with us.  I hope she knows that although her valiant attempts could not prevent the mother groundhog from being slain by the honey badger, her litter is still alive and I have adopted them as my own in her memory.  There were five in all, and I have named them Justice, Unity, Liberty, Independence and Alberta.  If anyone wishes to contribute to the habitation of these poor orphaned groundhogs, I have started a collection fund.  I'm sure Julia would have appreciated it.  Thank you all for coming today and thank you for celebrating the memory of a true friend of mine.  She will remain in our hearts and the hearts of groundhogs forever.