Happy Tuesday, world. The weather outside is blah, and all I want to do is curl up on the couch and watch endless hours of murder shows…. but alas, something of much greater importance is happening today, and therefore it must be addressed. Today marks the one year anniversary of the shooting of one of my closest friends, and although she doesn’t know it, this post today is dedicated to her. At the end of this post, I shall include a link to the article I wrote exactly one year ago about the shooting that almost ended her life, but for now, I would just like to discuss how far she’s come, and how her heroism has affected so many around her.

So Officer Heather Seddon, consider this my personal, yet completely not personal letter to you, my Tallest Best Friend Forever.

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Dearest Heather,

This past year, I have seen so many changes in all of our lives. So many ups and downs. So many unknowns. So many roller coasters of emotions. Yet, it has also been a year that has seen extreme empowerment, life-altering choices, career paths paved – others covered completely by trees, and growth and awakenings in people whom I never knew existed, myself included. It has seen healing and it has seen hope. And all of these things that I have seen I have been able to somehow attribute to you. I can and will never know what it is like to be someone who puts their life on the line, only to almost lose that life in an instant. Likewise, you will hopefully never know what it is like, as someone who thinks of you like a sister, to sit and wait and wonder whether or not your last conversation with said person was indeed the last.

Looking back, I see just how emotionally wrecked I was over the thought of losing you. And I’m your friend. Your fiancé is one of my favorite people in the history of history, and I shall never be able to wipe the image of he and I sitting and crying together out of my mind. That man loves you as much as a man can love a woman, if not more, and I wish you both a very long life filled with joy, happiness, health, and really, really, really tall children…. I mean really tall. I’m dead serious. If they’re born and measure less than a yard long, you’ll have some serious explaining to do. 🙂

This letter won’t be long. I just wanted to take the opportunity to shower you with my admiration and awe at how far you have come, and how triumphant you have proven to be. You’ve handled each and every obstacle that has come your way with pure grit, gumption, determination, and focus, just to name a few. I have seen your struggles, and I’m starting to suspect you might not be fully human, because I’ve never seen someone with the courage you’ve had, and the steps you’ve taken, to come back with a vengeance, and show the police force, and the world, that nothing, and I mean nothing, can break your spirit.

I absolutely love and adore you, Heather. I love your patience… and lack thereof; I love how you love parking on crowded streets…..not. I love how, no matter WHAT I say to you or ask, you just shrug your shoulders and go, “Meh”. 🙂 I could seriously go on and on. 2016 has seen so much change and so much growth, and it’s not even halfway over; I have no doubt that the best is yet to come.

You are surrounded by so many people who love and respect you, and I want you to know that I, Kate Robinson, shall always be among them. You are an amazing woman, police officer, friend, fiancée, jokester, Charades player, and most importantly, ponytail twirler. I look forward to many more decades of laughter and sarcasm, and a lifetime of Game Nights and Apple TV binges.

I love you, Heather. You are my happy place. You are my hero.  ❤

Love always,

Katie Kaboom

For those of you reading this who perhaps aren’t familiar with the events that transpired, below is a link to the original article. 

Please read.

Officer Down 2015