In Loving Memory of Aunt Jen

There are moments in life when time stands still. You either receive wonderful, beautiful news that you want to hold onto forever (marriage proposal, birth of a child), or it's news that stops you in your tracks; shocking you to your core. You stop to ask yourself if this is a dream, that this can't be happening? Ania and I experienced the latter yesterday when we received news that Jennifer Lisman Bunich - Aunt Jen to Colin - passed suddenly. Jen is survived by her amazing husband, Boris, and her beautiful 2.5 year old daughter, Claire.
It's moments like this in life that cause one to reflect, and reflect deeply. When you lose a close friend, a family member, a loved one - it hurts. When you lose someone who left this world far too early, like 36 year-old Jen, it makes me angry. Why does this happen? If you take the religious viewpoint, you say that God needed Jen more than we do here on earth. That it's His plan for Jen and that her time on earth here is complete. I want to accept that, but damnit, I just don't understand or get it. It's not fair - not to Boris, not to Claire or her family or the myriad of friends and co-workers who loved her and respected her for being such a wonderful human being. But this entry is not about religion, or my viewpoint or anything else. This is about Jen Bunich, our dear friend.
Jen was simply amazing. So beautifully artistic, her creativity and talent always left you in awe. Such a big heart, you couldn't help but love the person she was. Jen always made you feel good, always had the right thing to say, the right advice to give out. She was a "big" sister to many of us, though many of us - her friends - are all essentially the same age. A loving wife, constantly supportive of her husband and all his hard working endeavors (the man has got a work ethic like few people I know). And maybe most notable, Jen was an amazing mother to Claire. She loved Claire so much - a love that only a mother knows. But it showed so beautifully to others. They were the best of buddies. Claire Bear, as Jen would call her, is the perfect mix of daddy and mommy and is one unbelievably happy child. At 2.5 years old, it sickens me to think that her only memories of mommy may be through pictures and stories of how wonderful her mom was. Some people say they can remember things when they were that young, and I pray that Claire has those personal memories to hold on to. She deserves that much.
As many of you probably recognize already, Aunt Jen was the one who had the idea of starting Colin's Blog as I mentioned in one of the very first entries. What a gift to us - a gift that will last a lifetime! She helped us with our baby registry, what would have undoubtedly taken Ania and I hours of frustration, Jen helped us complete the task in 2 hours! She was also the first to make a sign to personalize Colin's isolette; to dress up the place a bit ;-) That sign has more meaning than ever to us now. It has been on Colin's isolette since the day she brought it to us. We got it laminated yesterday after hearing the news, and it will always hold special meaning for us.
Jen also started a blog of her own, along with her dear friend, also Jen (Jen P.) back in November. It's quite an amazing site, chalk-full of excellent information for mommies and parents in the Charlotte area from resources, tips, shopping hot spots, stories, etc. She even did a story about Colin (an interview format with Ania) and posted it on her site. I encourage all of you who are kind enough to read Colin's blog to check out Jen's blog as well: http://www.charlottesmartypants.com/. It's a tiny window into the beautiful, creative person that was Jen Bunich.
Unfortunate doesn't begin to describe any child losing a parent at such a young age, but what a wonderful foundation of love, support, nurturing and caring that Jen provided her little girl in the short time she was with her. And what a lucky girl to have such a wonderful father. Talk about doting on her! What a team they make and will make into the future. Boris and Claire are loved by so many, they'll have an entire village to raise that child and support Boris in his times of need.
To Jen: I know you're in a better place now. I know you're watching down on all of us. We love you and we miss you terribly. Thank you for all you've ever done for us. You were truly one-of-a-kind, Jen Bunich.
Love, Ania, Bobby and Colin Hamp