As my friends and family can attest, I've always enjoyed Summerfest. From the moment I could drive there alone, it has been a multiple-day-every-year thing. Meeting Jacque took that enjoyment to another level. Somehow, she was someone who loved Summerfest even more than I did. It can't be a coincidence that the all-day-every-day Power Pass admission deal started the first year we went to Summerfest together.
So here I am, Summerfest in full swing, without Jacque. I didn't know what to expect - would I want to go at all? Would it be depressing to be there without her? I've been a couple times already, and it's been strangely comforting. There are definitely some sad moments, but it's felt good to be in a happy place, with happy memories. Jacque would be proud, I've planned who I'm going to see and have been binge-listening to their music so that I know what I'm hearing.
In the end, I think of Summerfest like I think of many things these days. I loved it before I met Jacque, and like a lot of things, she made it even better. Now that she is gone, it's my job to keep that same level of fun & enjoyment. Not only at Summerfest, but in all aspects of my life. It's what she would have wanted and it's what I want. It's amazing to think about the impact someone can have on your life in only a few short years. But Jacque had that kind of spirit. I told her this once, and I said it at the service, Jacque was the kind of person that made you want to be a better person. That's the inspiration I carry with me today, at Summerfest, standing on a picnic table.
