Missy was a cherished childhood friend who never failed to bring a smile to my face. Our fits of giggles in the classroom bring fond memories of her vibrant character. We only ran into each other once or twice as adults at fundraisers for All Species Kinship; she was beautiful and just as carefree and genuine as she was as a child. I'm thankful that I was able to remind her of her beauty a few weeks ago. I'm regretful that I didn't reach out further. My heart aches for her family and friends. I'm challenging myself to carry on her vibrance through committing random acts of kindness. Because smiles matter. Her smiles and laughter will never be forgotten and will live on through all that she touched.