It makes sense that the favorite television show of a dancer would be “Dancing with the Stars.” What doesn’t make sense is on the night of this season’s finale that dancer is listed by police as missing. With each passing day we all know more about Jenni-Lyn Watson, even though most of us did not know her at until her parents became concerned when they could not find her.
We know she likes “Glee”. She likes black and white photography. Her MySpace page even shares a wonderful self-portrait in black and white taken a few years back. We know she enjoys life at Mercyhurst College. We know her friends from Liverpool High School care deeply about her.
We know Jenni-Lyn has the look of so many other young women her age. Hair highlighted in one photo, but not the next. She has the brightest of smiles in some pictures and a sense of thoughtfulness and searching in others.
What we don’t know is the depth of the pain her parents and sister are feeling tonight. The anguish of those close to her as they come together for what should be a Thanksgiving celebration. We don’t know the details of her life, of her relationships. Perhaps that information is guiding police in this search, but we don’t know. They’re not saying much other than each passing day diminishes the hope of her being found alive.
Wednesday afternoon friends of Jenni-Lyn will pray for her at Mercyhurst and her home parish of St. Margaret’s. They will search for words of comfort. They will share stories. They will shed tears for their friend the dancer, who now that we know her better, has become everyone’s girl next door.
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