Rachael

Rachael didn’t have to die on Alfalfa Market Road in 2020. The roads were icy, and she went off the road, over-corrected, and rolled her Subaru Legacy. It’s the kind of accident that people walk away from all the time with a little bit of luck … as long as they are wearing their seatbelt.

Rachael wasn’t wearing her seatbelt.

Rachael was thirty two when she died, and by the looks of her descanso she was well loved and loved bugs. Her cross, easily visible from the road, is adorned with all kinds of insects and birds and artwork.

Displays of love like this make me a little sad and a little angry. It’s a fucking seatbelt. You click it on, it keeps you safe so that when you roll your car you aren’t thrown to your death leaving your loved ones to grieve.

Rachael’s friends and family were so full of love for her as evidenced by the decorations and care that have gone into her memorial it’s a shame she put them through this. And yes, I know it was an accident, but this one was likely preventable.

I got a little artistic with the snail. I’m exploring the limits of Adobe Lightroom a little more these days, both with the descansos and my other photography.

Anyway, rant over. Rest in peace, Rachael.