Dear Mark,

Happy birthday, cousin! You're legal. I bet your friends would've taken you out on midnight, along with your girlfriend Genevieve, and you'd all go out & buy lotto tickets and cigs & whatnots. That's how your friends are, sometimes. I don't know about your girlfriend, but your friends are fans. I try not to judge people because of their actions, but because of their being, so I'm guessing that there was some good in those friends of yours that made them your friends, & I hope it wasn't about the smoking. Anyways. That is completely off-topic. Yes, your birthday. It's weird because I just turned 18 back in June. You know that. My debut? We're the same age now, isn't that weird? Eric's 1st birthday party was on Saturday & it was an adorable party. Uncle Ronald & Auntie Cecille foreal know how to throw parties. Isabelle & Eric remind everyone of me & Luke when we were younger. I can see the resemblance. Topacio, wsuuup?! I'm getting more used to the fact that you're not physically around. The younger cousins are struggling though; I'm trying to help them out with their already complicated lives (especially Leah, Rachel & Marielle! They're a fun bunch but dang, they're growing up.). They always tell me stories about you guys & it's crazy how much you've impacted their lives, just with your love for family. Courtney, Krista, & Sara still talk about you too. I can still see sadness in your dad's eyes whenever I see him at parties. I haven't seen Ivan around since Thanksgiving, but I'm sure he still thinks about his older brother, even though you're stepbrothers. It's strange that your MySpace brings people together. You receive comments daily. I admit to reading some of them, just like everyone else, & it makes me sad to see people asking you for help, to watch over them & to give them hints to the right decision. Then, they talk about God & how you're probably having fun up there. To be honest, I'm scared because I don't know forsure if you've found God during your short stay here. My heart becomes uneasy thinking about the fact that maybe you didn't make your way into heaven. To get into heaven, not only do you need to accept God as your Lord & Savior, but it must show in your life & how well you follow His word. God was your #1, I knew that, but did you strive to be like Him? Did you go & make fishers of men? I'll never know but I do know that you are missed & I hope to see you in heaven when I get there, praising our "#1" together. Until then, I hope people turn to God for guidance, because though you showed your love here on Earth, you can't do much where you're at now. I pray for our lives & I thank God for yours. You did so much while you were alive & well. I've found myself missing you alot lately. New Year's was at Ate Christine's & the last time we had New Years at her place, you were there. It definitely brought back good times. Mama's birthday is tomorrow & I hope to visit both of you tomorrow at Forest Lawn. It's not too far from school, yaknow? In fact, it's on the way home. Speaking of school, I should finish my homework. My family wants to go out for dinner & a movie, & I'm lagging. By the way, thanks for Sushi Samurai! I try to take people there sometimes. Good stuff. Sucks that we didn't get to go out for sushi. I'm maddd craving. You think you would've had sushi at your party? I'm pretty sure. I would've loved you for that. Even more so. Happy birthday again.
RIP 01/19/91 -- 10/01/07 <3
Love, Loris.