Rest in Peace Mackenzie Michalski©

 

Six degrees of separation, that is all.  Any two strangers are, on average, only apart by precisely 6.6 degrees of separation.  I never met Mackenzie Michalski, a beautiful and vibrant young woman, who according to all who knew her was a light in the darkness, which is all too often our modern world.  I wish that I had, but I didn’t.  I might have, since I have known her Mother for almost forty years, but I missed my chance.  And so today, I will meet Mackenzie for the first, and unfortunately, the very last time, at her memorial service.  

 

You see, Mackenzie was killed while vacationing in Budapest, Hungary, a city she loved and called her “happy place”.  For those like me, who never got the chance to meet “Kenzie” as she was known to her friends and family, she lived in Portland, Oregon and was a kind and loving neurosurgery nurse practitioner, who enjoyed traveling.  Kenzie dedicated herself to caring for others and using her humor, positivity, and limitless empathy to making the world a better place for us all.

 

Kenzie, you were a light in the darkness and “will forever be remembered as a beautiful and compassionate young woman”, by all who were so blessed as to have met you.  I wish I were one the lucky ones who had the good fortune to have met you, before today.