Candace Rose Olson

Speech from Candace’s uncle, Darren Olson.

Thank you,everyone, for being here today.

Webster Dictionary defines Candace Rose as a beautiful young lady with a big heart. I double-checked that with ChatGPT, so there’s no reason to fact check me on that.

Looking out at all of you, it’s been so nice to see and talk with people I haven’t seen in years, some of whom I thought I’d never see again. We have people from Texas; Austin, Houston, and Brownfield. For those that don’t know Brownfield…from there you can be in Amarillo by morning, but Lubbock tonight. (Please don’t steal that…I’m writing a country song and there aren’t many cities left in Texas that haven’t been used yet.)

We have New Mexico, New Jersey, Iowa, South Dakota, Missouri, Kansas, Virginia, Ohio and Hawaii. I think of how deeply loved she was to bring so many people together from so far away.

I first met Candace in New Mexico. As a baby, she was surrounded by love with her great-grandma Nadine helping to look after her. Over the years, we had some adventures.

The first time we took her to Kansas City, her response was “Candace City? Nobody should be in my city!”

We took her to see the Cubs in Wrigley Field where we got her a jersey and she pointed to the C…”C for Candace!”

Years later the Levaris were kind enough to let me crash their annual Disney World vacation so that I could surprise the girls.

These are the memories I carry with me.

And finally our last family Thanksgiving in Brownfield with aunt Eyvonne and uncle Terry a couple years ago where I got my favorite picture with her when I picked her up and sat her on one of my shoulders. The look on her face was priceless.

I know that some of you may be sitting there with regret or maybe even anger in your hearts right now. I’m not going to tell you how you need to grieve, but I do believe that the time for that has passed.

So I want to give you permission right now to forgive.

Forgive yourself.

Forgive whomever you need to let that anger go and to move forward with peace in your soul.

I thought about scattering song lyrics throughout this speech that have been running through my mind since Thursday.

The sharp knife of a short life.

I think I’ve seen this film before and I didn’t like the ending.

If I could change the way that you see yourself, you wouldn’t wonder why you’re here, they don’t deserve you.

But I’ll just leave you with the pre-chorus from one of my favorite Billie Eilish songs; I’d sing it but my voice would definitely crack right now.

And I don't know what I'm cryin' for

I don't think I could love you more

It might not be long, but baby, I

I'll love you 'til the day that I die

We’ll miss you, Candace.

And if right now you’re looking down at us and saying that “nobody should be in my city”, just know that we’re all in Candace City for you.