In Memory of Lauren Beck

I met Lauren Beck when she was about the same age my daughter is now. She was cute as she could be, with big beautiful eyes, freckles, and curly red hair.

Her parents and I bonded over Jimmy Buffett, and Lauren was our little Parakeet. When I think of Lauren in that stage of life, I think of flower leis and karaoke in her parents’ living room.

If you know Holly and Beck, you know how much they love their daughter. She was a miracle baby, born on Labor Day. It has been a joy and an honor watching her grow into a kind, beautiful, creative young woman.

Lauren and her parents’ world changed when she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia at 21. But she stayed positive and kept fighting. When she lost that beautiful red hair, Beck shaved his head with her. She kept fighting until she had a bone marrow transplant. She kept fighting until she was in remission. She kept fighting through her sweet mama’s own health troubles. She kept fighting, even though she herself kept ending up back in the hospital again and again. She kept fighting and finding ways to express herself, ways to grow and to stay positive in spite of everything.

When Lauren started posting book reviews on social media, I asked if she might want to write for The Alabama Take. We needed some young blood on this site, and boy, did she deliver! She was an avid reader and a prolific writer, posting not only on The Take but also gaining a following on BookTok and Bookstagram. A few short weeks ago, she launched her own PR company focused on authors called Bookish Bubbly PR. At 23, she had a level of drive and maturity that I certainly didn’t have at that age, that I may not even have now at nearly 40.

Lauren was a sweet soul. As she sat in the hospital in her last days, her heart went out to recent tornado victims. She was an activist, always standing up for those in the margins, even as she struggled with her own physical strength.

We should all strive to be more like Ren. Be strong in the face of adversity. Read as much as you can. Be a safe person. Stand up for others. Stay positive. Be creative. Love your family and your friends and your dog fiercely. And fight like hell in spite of everything.

Lauren, it was an honor to watch you grow up and an honor to know you. Thank you.

Sail on, Parakeet.