Briana’s Birthday
I am terrible with birthdays. Pretty much the only birthday I remember is my own (it is a season, after all). Now I remember Neil’s because I have had to put it on enough forms that it sticks out in my mind. It’s also Pearl Harbor day. This is the one feature of Facebook that I think is actually useful: the birthday reminders. It tells you when all of your “friends” have a birthday.
I got a reminder that my dear friend Briana would have celebrated her 30th birthday yesterday.
It’s likely that I would not have remembered, had she still been alive, and all she would have received from me would be a Facebook message. But, her birthday hit me, even more than the anniversary of her death. Perhaps because as a midwife she celebrated so many first births.
Briana midwife
Her midwife partner Cathy has started a project to honor her called The Briana Project to cherish her memory and spread her talents and ideas to women around the world. Please visit the site and donate if you can.
Cathy put our video we made of Breezer on the website so people could get a sense of her. It is one of the most precious things I’ve ever made. I am so glad we taped so much of her wisdom.
Briana’s Words, Briana’s Wisdom from Kate and Neil on Vimeo.
I am really missing her these days and this video is so nice to have to hear her voice and insights and laughter.
This is the last picture we took when I last saw Briana in Utah out for the filming of my documentary. I don’t know why we look like a couple of strangers sitting down on a couch together, but I love the look on Breezer’s face.
Utah Fall 2010
I also love this one at our Wild West party where she is giving Katy a noogie.
Briana's silly side comes out
And, she was always stunning… even in a silly hat.
Bri helping me celebrate my birthday
Briana
Happy birthday Briana. You are dearly loved and so, so sorely missed by so many. My heart feels heavy and a little bit emptier every time I realize, again, that you’re gone.
Themocracy
She is gone but not forever. When I look at that silly cowboy photo, I picture the glorious reunion you will have with her someday!
Thank you so much for sharing! I was wildly out of touch with Briana and had spoken to her probably three or four years ago when she was going to come stay with me overnight on a drive through California. I have been shocked by how much I think about her now and by how upset I was when I learned of her passing. I’m so grateful you were able to document her and have shared her with the world! I miss her a lot. And I love listening to her speak. Thank you.
Tara, thanks for saying so. I’m glad the footage means as much to you as it does to us.
Happy Birthday, Bri!
Kate, you have so many cute photos of Bri plus the wonderful video footage, which is a priceless treasure to me. I am eternally grateful you had the idea to make the documentary and that you were able to film her before she died. Plus! the short commemoration video you guys made is amazing and so moving – hard to watch now, actually. But, I remember how much my family and I clung to it in the first days after she died. Thank you so much. You really acted on inspiration.
Tess! So glad to have this footage of Bri. It really is priceless.
They also use the video we made for her applicants to the scholarship fund in her name. They have to watch the video and write about Bri. I love that it has gotten so much use!
I am done with the bar on July 26th (Praise the Lord & Hallelujah) and would LOVE to see you when you come to Utah & that cute little grub of yours!!!