Mareen Leigh Banaczek

Mareen!
It's hard to believe that you've been gone for nearly twenty years now. Obviously a lot has changed since then. We are not the silly, thoughtless sixteen year olds that we were when you died.
Natalie was the first to get married and the first to divorce. Her second marriage (which also ended in divorce) produced Mara Leigh, your first namesake. Mara is now 10 and is as beautiful as her mother. Natalie works in advertising in Chicago now.
Elise married Eric, just like you always said she would! Marina Erica (surprise a namesake!) is 10, her sister Caici Lyn is 7, and their kid brother is due at the end of April! Elise teaches English at our old alma mater, and she deals with a lot of kids of our old neighbors!

Laura was the first to have a baby. You know Beck because he is now in your care, with his little sister Elli. Laura married Andrew, whom she met while in college. She has four other kids who are all bright and cherubic: Autumn Maura (another namesake!), now 8; Seth Colton, 5; Brenna Natalie, 3; and Jonas Grey, 3 months. Laura is a part-time copyeditor for a local paper. She's back where we started....

Take care Mareen. Say hi to Elli, Beck, "Old Gray," Gramma Ren, Nana Ailis, and Elise's dad for us. Save us spots in Heaven!
Love,
Lolo, Natty, and Lisee-Lisee

Hey Mar-Mar, the 4 Musketeerettes just isn't the same without you!!! It's been far too long since I've seen you last. As Laura said in her (lengthy, as usual--you know how long winded she can be!!!) letter, I have a little girl now. Her name is Mara Leigh Addams, what a creepy last name. Her nickname is Wednesday, and she's starting to look like her! Her hair was long and dark to begin with, but she's started the 2 braid thing and wears too much dark clothing. You would get a kick out of her. You and Mara are so much alike, it must be the name thing.

Just wanted to tell you that my mom is coming up to meet you. Just before she died, she said your name, so I know that you will be there at Heaven's gate to greet her.

Love you, "most revered bald one!"
Natty

Hi Mareen,

Wow, I guess I'm the last of the three to find this site. As we approach twenty years without you, I realize just how much of an angel you were when you were on earth. God, Mar, I miss you more every day.

Do you remember when we went to the county fair when we were fourteen, and a fourtune teller told us all that we were going to suffer a lot in our lives? While the rest of us were all worried, you just scoffed and said that you weren't going to suffer? Well I guess you were right. Sure, the cancer wasn't easy, but after they handed down "the death sentence," you were at peace with the world, and everything was okay. The rest of us had to go on living, and we almost didn't make it without you.

Just wanted to let you know, I had my baby. Whenever something quirky happens in my life, I know that you are behind it. That's why when my "son" was born on my bedroom floor, I could hear you laughing. Ailis Lara is doing just fine, thank you very much. She's absolutely beautiful. Eric jokes that we need a fourth daughter so that they can be "The Four Musketeerettes, the Next Generation." Actually, I think that title is held by your three namesakes, Mara, Marina, and Autumn, plus Caici. They look and act so much like us growing up, it's not even funny. Mara is you: dark, serious and yet with a wicked sense of humor. Marina is Natalie. She doesn't take anything seriously and is her own woman. Autumn is a lot like I was: a good kid who wants to rebel for no good reason. And my Caici is like Laura: constantly worrying, a little whiny, but the best friend anyone could ask for.

Take care Mareen. I know we'll all be reunited someday. No offense, but I hope it's not for a long time.

Love,
Elise
April 12, 2000
Email Elise: secretfriendfromheaven@yahoo.com