I can’t believe she has been gone for 5 years. I still miss her, I still wish I could pick up the phone and call her, I still wish I could say “let’s have lunch” or go shopping or just hang out, but I can’t and it’s sad.

Today is a beautiful sunny day in the Northwest and since we don’t see a lot of these I know people will be rushing out to get “some sun” before it disappears behind the clouds. Excuses like, “I need the vitamin D” or “it’s just for a few minutes, just to get a little color” will spill from the lips of the Northwesterner today but it is so important to protect yourself and the ones you love. The tan (or burn) will fade but the damage it does won’t and in the case of Erica the damage was enough to take her life. So pop a vitamin D supplement, apply some 30 SPF and go out and enjoy this day! I know Erica would if she could!