The Loss of a Satellite

A satellite is any object that orbits another larger object in space.

Examples of satellites include natural satellites like Earth's Moon and planets, and artificial satellites such as the International Space Station (ISS), the Hubble Space Telescope, and GPS satellites, which serve purposes like communication, weather forecasting, scientific research, and navigation.  

The satellite I am referring to is Carmen.

Carmen was a beacon of joy. A beacon of power. A beacon of hope, resilience, laughter, - any positive word you can come up with - that was Carmen.

Carmen left our world today, October 8, 2025. And she left a gaping hole. A dimness where her light once was. A rainbow with one less color. A quiet, where there was once laughter.

For those of us who knew and loved her, this loss is hard. All loss is hard, but Carmen? Did everything right. She worked out multiple times a day, she ate healthy and she loved without abandon. Yet she is gone.

I don't know how to process this. I can't even speak to how her beloved husband is struggling. Or her son - with her very first grandchild. The loss is beyond description. So what do we do? Where do we go? How do we move forward?

Right now - I am happy to just be still. To survive the moment. I will reach out to our shared friends and find solace in our mutual love for her. I will cherish the conversations and text messages from her beloved husband, Jack,

I will cherish the time we had on her couch, holding hands, heads leaned against each other in love.

But what I feel she would want the most - is for us to remember her joy - to keep bringing Carmen-like joy to this world. She had a way of putting everyone at ease, of making everyone smile and making the space around her a happier place.

Her satellite may have gone, but we are tasked with holding on, and continuing the light she brought to this world.

Carmen - My friend. I love you forever. I will care for my many succulents you gave to me and remember you. I will teach my classes with you in my heart - in the front row. Making fun of Stan and just being joyful.

I don't have words for this loss.

You are a favorite memory of my life - that is your impact. When I look back on what I have accomplished, or what i have lived, you are there.

You are a satellite.