A+T=Our Lovely Life: Colby Rulon Smith...aka Betty, Colbetty, Colbester, Roo, Roobow...etc etc etc

February 20, 1986- October 20, 2010

Live in Love

Let me give a little background info to begin. My sister is Cherie...AKA Lynn (probably what I'll refer to her as more) She is 2 years older than me, and we are best friends. Growing up we fought like any sisters would, but could always rely on each other for comfort or to keep our biggest secrets. When Cherie was 15 she was quite the little wild child, running around with the party peeps and I was the exact opposite. She met Colby Smith at a party (I believe). Little did she know, this new crush of hers would turn into a 7 year relationship.
When I met Colby, I instantly loved him (brotherly like). Colb wasn't always the best kid in the world...I mean he was quite the rebel child. I think this is one reason my sweet little innocent sister fell for him so hard. They were completely inseparable. They were young and in love and no one could get in the way of what they wanted. Cherie, Colb and I were really super close. Like, I was the 3rd wheel ALL the time. And I loved it. We would be the goofiest people together. He would do anything to make us laugh. Like the one time...Colby was doing a toe touch far better than any cheerleader i've seen in my dad's basement and jumped so high he cracked the ceiling with his head! Woops! haha we laughed so hard. (Sorry dad, cracked ceiling is still there).
Sometime late 2005 Cherie and Colby got an apartment together in PG. Cherie was working at a dentist office in Alpine, and it was not unusual for us to have lunch dates. One day she called me and said, "Dad and I are going to lunch today, do you want to come?". I don't know what it was, but somehow I just knew. I said..."Lynn are you pregnant??". She was silent. She was terrified to tell my dad and wanted me to be there with her. Remember how I said Colb wasn't always the best kid? Ya, well dad felt the same way. And he's super protective of us girls. But my dad was happy for them. One thing that has always stuck with me that my dad said is... "A baby is never a burden. They're always a blessing".
Through Cherie's pregnancy we became the best of friends. I was so excited to be having a niece! I spent most days at their house and would just bug the crap out of her belly...singing, poking, talking etc.
Aysha Lynn Smith was born on November 13, 2006. One of the best days of my life (along with my other 4 nieces and nephews bdays of course).
Life for Cherie and Colby wasn't always easy. They had their ups and downs, but through and through they loved each other deeply.
I'm not sure of the exact month/date but sometime 2009 they split. Their relationship wasn't working for them anymore, but they stayed close friends. (Props! Not many people can do this).
After this I didn't see or talk to Colby a whole lot. I ran into him a few times at a bar and we would chat and hug and exchange numbers. He was the sweetest person I knew. He had the biggest heart. I can still remember the exact way he'd hug me and pat the top of my head. I'm so glad I had these few short moments with him.
Fast forward October 20, 2010. It was about 7 am and my phone was silenced because I wanted to sleep in. Somehow I heard it ringing anyway. I saw "Lynn" on the screen and I just knew. I answered and I'm pretty sure the first thing I said was, "Lynn, what's wrong". Before she answered my heart was already in a panic. She said, "Tor, Colby passed last night. He over dosed. Aysha is right here so I'm trying not to cry in front of her, she doesn't know yet." She was calm. I was not. I told her I'd be right there. She asked me to try not to cry in front of Ayshy because she could tell something was going on and was worried. (Ayshy was 3, almost 4, at this time and was so in tuned with everyone's emotions). I ran out the door without even brushing my hair or my teeth. The first person I called was Austin. (This was all happening when I was also involved with D....Didn't call him...my heart went to Austin). He was able to somewhat calm me down, and was headed home from work to be with me. When I got to Cherie's house I walked in and there was my little Ayshy bug. Her sweet little round face and big blue eyes. I just grabbed her and hugged her. She hugged back and didn't say a word. It was almost like she knew she needed to comfort me...as I was trying to comfort her. I held back my tears the best I could.
That day, I was in a fog. It was like reality kept hitting me over and over, then I'd be ok. I wanted to do something to honor Colby's life. I loved him like my own brother, and even though over the previous year we hadn't been as close as we were before, my heart was shattered. My family is amazing. We were all together that day and had come up with the idea of doing a Night of Remembrance. Between us all, we pulled it together in one day. I sent out a mass text text and invited anyone who would want to come show their support. We had a great turn out.
One thing about Colby...he was the life of the party. He may have been a ding-a-ling from time to time, but everyone loved him. He was everybody's best friend. He had the biggest heart, and the one thing he always wanted was for everyone to get along (our family and his). There was drama...that doesn't need to be discussed... between us all over the years. When his family and his girlfriend Holladay showed up at my dad's house that night, I was so overwhelmed. It was everything Colby had ever wanted...everyone he loved under one roof. There were many many tears and laughs that night. It was amazing to see so many people there at his viewing and funeral...people of every kind. He was not one to judge. He had a spot in his heart for any person who walked into his life. His motto was "live in love" and that's just what he did.
It has been hard on all of us to be without him. Our little bug definitely has an angel watching over her. She has her up days and down days. She's been through a lot in her short little life, but one thing is for sure...she is so much like her daddy and loves the same way he did. We are all so blessed to have her in our lives.
To my sweet niece if you ever read this:
Your daddy taught me so many life lessons and brought so much laughter and happiness to my life. I am so thankful your mommy and daddy brought you into my life as my niece...my little bug. I love your smiling face. Thank you for always being so strong and comforting me, even though you've been going through so much more than me. Live in Love my beautiful Ayshy.

[Colby, Aysha and Cherie. Guessing early 2009]

[He would HATE me for this...but prime example of his goofy personality]

[I believe this was Colby's last birthday. February 20, 2010]

[I love this picture. Thank you Holladay for taking sooo many pictures!]

[Remember this photo?? Yes. Oct 20. I love this picture of us, I think mostly because of the meaning behind it. Austin was there for me through all of this and I needed him. He was the greatest support. He didn't know Colby but he would just listen and hold me while I cried, or laughed and talked and talked and talked about him. So great]