(Megan's second mom) Liz's thoughts about Megan's life

Megan was born on March 21, 1980, which is coincidently Liz and Jack’s 10^th wedding anniversary and the first day of spring.

Her personal signature in life was her love of life and her laughter…she loved the word “husband” and was anxious to start using it.

Megan was strong in academics, always honor.  She was FCHS Valedictorian (1998) and Honors at UNC in 2002 with major in English/Liberal Arts emphasis and minors in Spanish and Writing

Megan chose to be an organ donor – her lenses were donated to the Lions Eye Center

Loved having a wide range of music.  Her favorite song was the rendition of Over the Rainbow that Megan and Aaron heard everywhere when they were on their honeymoon in Maui last January. She laughed every time she heard it. She loved classical, jazz, and rock, but not country.

Here are some stories:

When Aaron was in Hawaii at age 14, he bought an oyster that held a white pearl.  Liz asked him what he wanted to do with it… he said he was going to save it and give it to the girl he was going to marry.  Later in 11^th grade, he had the pearl made into a single pearl necklace and gave it to Megan.  Liz reminded Jack of what Aaron had said back in Hawaii… Jack’s reply: “Well, we may already know who our daughter-in-law is.”

A funny memory… Aaron has never been known for spending money. He’s always been a saver… So, he and Megan were constantly thinking of things they could do that would cost nothing.  As a result, after a Prom and the After the Prom party, at 3 in the morning, Liz and Jack awoke to strange sounds in the bedrooms… giggles, shushes, window sounds… When finally awake, Jack and Liz could see Megan and Aaron, crawling out their bedroom window to the roof of the house, equipped with all their “picnic” supplies…. They just stayed there – ate their food – and watched the sunrise. Megan said she loved it more than a breakfast banquet at an expensive restaurant.

Megan (in one of the patio discussions) said that Mike Smith had done something really funny.  It was after a high school performance in Greeley. They had gone out to eat before returning to Ft. Collins.  During the dinner conversation, Mr. Smith (who did not realize that Megan and Aaron had been dating for a year) said to Megan,  “I noticed that trumpet player was giving you the eye.  You should check him out.” Megan laughed, and said, “I’m already dating someone.” Smith was a bit surprised and said “Who?” – he was as uninhibited as Liz in the question-asking department. Megan said, “Aaron.” Smith eyes opened wide and he said, “What? You’re dating a flute player?” Megan told that story often and laughed with every telling.

Liz and Megan loved sitting on the patio – just talking. Liz always asked questions… …sometimes personal… Liz once apologized for asking so many questions and told Megan she could always tell her it was none of her business.  Megan said, “Nope, that’s one of the things I like about you… you’ll ask anything … and I can tell you anything.”  So once, Liz asked, “So, when did you know Aaron was the One?  Megan laughed and said, “Oh, I just knew…actually, I think I always knew.”

In her daytimer, Megan had filled in a few sections…one in particular “The kind of person I want to be.  She wrote respectful, fun, trustworthy, supportive, and  intelligent.  She was definitely all of these – however….

She should have added patient.  Her most recent demonstration of this quality was evident as she attempted to teach Aaron (a flute and piccolo guy) how to play the bassoon.   Megan Campain also saw her patience when Megan Marie and Zach took Megan and Aaron on their first and only ski trip. Megan Marie was quite the skier, but she knew she had the McGrew novices.  Even though Megan might have preferred the blue slopes, she stood around teaching the two beginners as they tried to maintain some other position than that of sitting. Megan Campain decided to give in to just sitting; Aaron did not. So Megan Marie took him a little higher up the green slope. It was quite a while before they finally returned to the bottom. Megan’s view of these two’s return was hilarious. She could easily see Megan Marie’s yellow parka. However, Aaron’s red coat was hardly visible…he was covered in white.  Needless to say, Megan Marie was laughing; and she didn’t really miss the blue slopes.

At the age of 11 when Megan and Sarah first became step-sisters, they didn’t care much for each other. They fought often, got on each other’s nerves, and competed in everything. The summer before 7^th grade they both started to play the clarinet. They started practicing together, but it drove Sarah crazy that Megan learned how to play so much faster. So, it was good at semester that Sarah chose the oboe and Megan her bassoon, instruments that complement each other. They were able to admire and complement each other’s individual strengths and talents. Their relationship became one of mutual love and encouragement. As in their music, their lives became more about complementing each other rather than competing.  They were able to admire and complement each other’s individual strengths and weaknesses. They could enjoy one another and have fun as true sisters. In Sarah’s own words, “Megan truly became a sister to me and I will treasure growing up wit her and sharing life experiences together (including family vacations to Lake McConaughy, a Mission Trip to Mexico, school dances, their high school graduation party and, of course, our weddings.”) 

Megan’s mom, Carol, recalls the time when Megan and she were walking down the street.  Some passerby made some inappropriate comment and Megan looked at her Mom with her nose scrunched up, as only Megan could do, and simultaneously they said: EEEOOOOOUUUUUWWWWW!!!

Aaron has never been known to do anything in a hurried fashion. After he had finally proposed, Liz asked Megan if she had suspected. Her response: once again, brought laughter, she said, “Oh yes, I suspected. But I have expected it and suspected it many times before. He just finally got around to asking.”

Megan had a strong faith in God;  She didn’t waver in her belief… however, she did say that hanging around those McGrews had made her more of a liberal than she had ever been.  She had joined the Plymouth Choir and had become a member of this church list year.

She loved family and friends….

Her Aaron … her one and only love… her best friend.
Her father Gordon – who was always there for her and supported her
Her mother Carol – “She has become not only my mother but my friend.”
Her sister Jeffer (a nickname) –whom she cared for and loved deeply
Her step-sister Sarah Shultz – “I didn’t know if I liked her at first….but soon I loved her as a sister.
Her step-brother, Nate – the rascal
Her grandmother Marge – whom she adored
Her aunts whose musical talent she respected and envied – and she treasured their families’ constant support
Liz and Jack for including her in their family as if she were their own.
Megan Campain –who – after their wedding - didn’t feel the loss of a brother but the addition of a sister… even though the name-sharing was a bit confusing at times.
Zach whose silent wit brought out gales of laughter regularly…and they would never share their quiet joke.  Aaron’s grandmother Breese who as Megan Marie put it: “Is an awfully YOUNG grandma – at least she acts young.”
Marnie and rock Gloor the Nebraskan cousins who were in their wedding – Marnie for her happy beauty and Brock for his humor. Once Megan said, “It’s hard to be around him…you laugh so much, you wet your pants. Megan loved their parent’s constant support and laughter as they played a game of “Spoons.”
And – though too many to mention…she would not want left out all her other family members and friends whom she cherished as much as she cherished Aaron and life itself.