How do you put into words such a tremendous, devastating loss? I’ve been sitting here for hours and still can’t find a single word. So instead I’ll think about everything Marie gave to me. Many moons ago when I was widowed, my entire world fell apart. But that cavernous loss gifted me the best friends, the best of humanity, that anyone could ever hope for. The kind of friends who make you smile by a single thought, the ones you can hear making sarky comments when they’re not even near, the ones whose laughter rings loud and clear like no time has passed. The kind of friends that make everything just feel better, make life easier, giving the comfort that no matter how bad things can get, they will always have your back. Marie gave me all of this and more. She taught me to give less fucks about what other people thought, to find the humour, the party (and usually the bar). I feel lucky that in these years of friendship we have made a lifetime of insanely happy memories to hold onto alongside the belief that one day, one day, the Irons might just win the cup again. I can’t find the words to describe your loss Marie, because you’ve not passed away, you’re not in the next room, you’re not gone. You’re in every single one of us who had the absolute gift of knowing you. xxxx