Month: October 2024

The Year of Petty

Those who don’t have a deep knowledge of NASCAR won’t understand, but this has been the year of Petty for me. You see, the “king” of NASCAR is Richard Petty, and the number of his car? 43, my current age.

As with time, it has came and it is about to go. I have done many petty things during this year. Things I’ll never repeat electronically. Things I regret immensely. But through those things, I’ve learned many lessons.

I’ve learned to not let my emotions control my physical actions. I’ve learned that the feelings that I may be feeling at any moment in time will pass. That those feelings are telling me something, something I need to tune into and learn from. I’ve learned that my mood is much better with positivity instead of my normal pessimistic negative inclinations.

I’ve had a lot of darkness enter my life this year. The loss of a person I thought I would die with, the loss of my best friend and then the loss of my stepbrother. Dealing with a parent that seemed to only care about her own interests and not of her children’s, the list goes on and on. That darkness consumed me for a while, feeding the side of me that doesn’t care.

When I don’t care, all bets are off. Breaking laws? Whatever. Jail or prison? I could use a change of scenery. Use your imagination to think of the path that can lead me down. It’s very dark, very twisted and a place where light doesn’t exist.

That care however? That’s what makes me, me in many ways. That care is why I would buy a friend a futon because her ex took her couch. That care is why I always listen to others, even if their complaints are about me. That care is why my compassion for others is never ending. That care is why I ran a business not based on how much I could make, but focused on how many people I could help. That care is why helping people is a core value of mine, regardless of my own personal benefit.

Through a lot of soul searching, journaling, therapy and other things I have been able to see how much that care brings a genuine smile on my face.

Bye bye petty! I had fun with you while you were around, but from here on out I don’t have room for you and what you do to me in my life.

Changing Perspectives

A classmate passed away. I only knew because another classmate let me in on the news. Thank you Erika. I have said for a long time, and I will repeat it here – they are my people. I only want them to be happy and healthy. While I didn’t know her personally, I instantly recognized the name. My ex-fiancee did know this girl. Due to her currently not having any transportation – I took her to the funeral.

It appeared as if she and I were the only people there who were not close family. This broke my heart for Anya and her family. Lyndsey spoke with her mother and father, showing them a photo of them during a sleepover when we were teenagers. Over the years we were together she has had many people who were in her life pass away, but she had never shown her pain, her tears like this.

They were extremely appreciative and grateful for us coming. It made me realize just how large small gestures can be. How much of an impact you can make by just showing up. Funerals are for the living, in a time of great grief.

May you rest in peace Anya. You faced so many difficulties in your time on Earth and brought joy to the lives of those you touched along the way. I hope that joy is not forgotten by those you knew, those you loved.

Anya Ann Vieira, age 43, originally of Bloomington, passed away peacefully at 2:00 pm on Thursday, September 26, 2024, at her home in Bloomfield with her loving service companion “Yuki” the malamute at her side. She was born in Bloomington, IN on October 12, 1980, the daughter of Martin Leonard & Diana Lynn (Allgood) Vieira.

She was a 1998 graduate of Owen Valley High School. She attended dental assistant school in Indianapolis and received a Bachelor’s Degree from Saint Mary of the Woods College. She enjoyed hiking, organizing and spending time with her family. Anya suffered from birth with a long list of debilitating illnesses.

Anya is survived by her loving parents; sister, Tina Hershberger of Las Vegas; nephew, Anthony Coovert; niece, Ashley Coovert as well as several aunts, uncles and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Leonard and Ethel Vieira as well as her maternal grandparents, Frank and Mary Allgood.

Funeral service will be held at 1:00 pm at Welch & Cornett Funeral Home in Worthington on Friday, October 4, 2024 with Pastor Terry Dowell officiating. Burial will follow at Dixon Cemetery in Worthington.

Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Friday from 11:00 am until the time of service.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Noblesville Humane Society or the American Cancer Society through the funeral home.