Dear Blanco,

Last week was long and hard. I never imagined that my family and I would be preparing funeral arrangements for my niece and goddaughter Marisa Grace.

As a child and a teenager I, like many others, dreamed of leaving Blanco as soon as I could. But Blanco is where my family stayed. It was also the place where Juan and Lisa decided was best for their family. In my back in forth visits from San Antonio, to Blanco I never stayed too long.

Last week, Marisa proved to me how precious and beautiful a small town life can be. The community has always united one way or another for events and fundraisers, but last week I saw how blessed my family was to live in such a wonderful town. From bringing Marisa home from Houston, to the crowds that spilled out of the church doors, this community amazed me.

Thank you Blanco, for your prayers, your thoughts, and your hugs. I will always hold you dear to my heart, and I am lucky and privileged to call Blanco, my hometown.

Janette Vargas

San Antonio, TX