AMM and playing Catch up

I can remember exactly where I was, what I was doing, who I was with, and what I said, how I felt, and what I did after receiving one phone call. My best friend Keri called me Sunday morning on March 30th to tell me that Annie was gone. I was dog sitting for Lacey, our other friend and Emma (her yorkie) and I were taking a walk around my apartment complex. I thought it was weird that Keri was calling me because it was Sunday and I knew she would be in dance rehearsals all day. I answered with our usual "Hey girl hey!!" but could immediately tell that something was wrong. Keri was in tears, and when she finally could stop the tears long enough, she told me. Annie had been the designated driver for her nephew's prom Saturday night. She was driving him, and two of his friends home after the party when another car who was speeding, driving without a license, and drunk crossed the median and hit them head on. the three passengers suffered minor injuries, but Annie was killed. Keri and I both cried on the phone. I didn't know what to think. I got off of the phone and called Cameron. He was supposed to come meet me for lunch anyway, he might as well get there early. I couldn't get ahold of my mom because she was at church. Rosemary, my room mate was home though. So while I waited for Cameron to get there, I was curled up with Rosemary on my couch, and with little Emma (again, the dog. I know, who names their dog Emma?). Finally church was over and I called my mom, and within minutes of talking to her, Cameron got there. He didn't know Annie, but he could comfort me. The last person I had to call was Lacey, who I was dog sitting for. She was out of town for the weekend. Although we couldn't get up with her until she got to my house that night. Annie, Lacey and Keri all grew up dancing together at a studio in Wilmington. I met Lacey in 9th grade, then Keri through Lacey and Annie through the two of them. 

Annie was the type of person that lit up a room when she entered. She was the life of the party, and had an unbelievable love for life and everyone around her. She was truly an amazing person. She was a Christian. A child of God, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, that was taken incredibly too soon. Annie lived to dance and for her Sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta. 

Since her passing, her Alpha Gamma Delta sisters have put on a charity dance event in memory of Annie. Last year I was in Charlotte for Cameron's best friends wedding and couldn't attend, but I was there this year and it was amazing. Seeing everyone there for Annie, and doing what Annie loved best, Dancing was beyond words. Her family was there, the whole sorority, girls she had danced with growing up, and tons of friends. It was truly an honor to be in the presence of all of these people and to share the love of Annie with everyone. They raised over $2,000.00 for the Annie Morgan Mcleod Scholarship at UNCW. (AWESOME!)

The point is, we're not guaranteed another day in this life of ours. So love you love, and tell them often. Because I certainly didn't think that seeing Annie at the beach bars at Wrightsville Beach one night on the way to meet up with Cameron would be the last time that I would see her. I'll always cherish the hug she gave me and the "call me if you get crunk and need a ride" that she told me. That was Annie. Always looking out for everyone else.

We love you Annie Morgan Mcleod. Thanks for being our guardian angel. 

Jason's Choreo- "Halo"

The link above is to a video of a dance that Jason Williams, one of Annie's best friends (and one of my friends). He choreographed this dance and it was shown at the 1st Annual AMM Dance Event. He lives in Los Angeles (right down the street from where I used to live!) And dances for a living. It's a very touching video. 

<3 you AMM. Always in hearts, never forgotten.