My Everyday Conversation   “…You’ve been married 11 years? My, you don’t look that old. How many children do you have?” That’s when my blood runs cold. This person who stands before me considers me a friend I hope this time is easier. Well, here I go again… “We do have children, four of them! Two boys & two girls, you see.” “How wonderful! How old are they?” “…They are 7, 5, and 3.” “I thought you said that you have four.” “We do…our third child passed away.” “Oh my God! How old was she?” “She was 8 weeks and 1 day.” I hold my breath and wait, for I know what’s about to happen “Oh, how sad …if that happened to me…I can’t begin to imagine!” “You’re lucky that she died so young, before you both could bond.” “She’s in a better place, you know she’s safe up there with God.” “Did the babysitter kill her?” “Maybe she was sick.” “Boy, you guys sure were able to replace her mighty quick.” “It’s been 4 years…do you still think of her on her birth date?” “Isn’t SIDS that thing they say when they really suffocate?” “Have you thought to have another one? Tiana needs a sister.” “Just give your boys a little time and maybe they’ll forget her.” “You mean you didn’t have some feeling that she might die that day?” “Someday you’ll “get over it” and your pain will go away.” I hope you never have to feel what I feel everyday So as you’re voicing your ideas I really want to say… “My innocence died on June 19th, 1998. My daughter’s death has ripped my heart, but now I feel no hate For the only way you could understand is if you lost your baby, too. You still have your innocence…you should thank God that you do. So when you see us with our three please try to get this right We have four we love, three that run and one that’s taken flight!”                                                                     Written by Tracy Weeks In memory of Jenica Lynn Weeks (4/23/98- 6/19/98)