Kiira Jepson

Poem by Maura: Kiira Keeyra…it’s MoyRA …. Thank you for being my friend, part of my life, heart and soul these past 30 years. Your generous, kind, funny, supportive, loyal, consistent friendship is part of me and always will be. You have stamped a big smiley heart in my heart. I still hear your voice and laugh from the very firstto moment we met years ago at S.R.T. auditions, singing “Oooh, my feet…” and “Look to the Rainbow.” Our Morselicious Meals, hikes, various jobs, plays, musicals, dancing the Polka in our matching vintage pink dresses at Luna’s in Sebastapol. Riding Ichabad Crane and jumping off into the lake just before I passed out from Heat Stroke on stage during our performance of Bedroom Farce. You later teased, “No more power walking, power fainting, power talking.” Your many shows as Cher at Beach Blanket Babylon. Your turn at directing me in a couple of my One-Woman Cabaret’s “it’s Little Miss Debbie Reynolds.” You would tease. Homage San Francisco Santa Rosa Los Angeles Sacramento Salinas Las Vegas New York I think we tried every odd job together from Focus Groups pretending we didn’t know each other for fear of getting fired, sales, sales, sales, Fred Segal, Tweak, your Homage, my Mac-n-Mo’s, theatre buddy…how many amazing shows we shared. The comedy classes we took because you were on a quest to bring laughter back into your life and wanted me to join you. We even shared the FROG, my nickname since childhood and your spirit animal. No surprise. The frog represents new life, transformation. You have transformed everyone around you and like the Butterfly, your wings have flown. Did you know the average person laughs 17 times a day. You and I shared at least double that if not more. That averages to your laughter alone last year totalled to at the very least 1768 laughs NOT including the infinite number of laughs you sparked in everyone around you. Your spirit, outlook, wisdom, humor, kindness, fairness, authentic Keeyra-ness has swirled and filled every single pore of my being and I am certain every soul you touched. I LOVE you. I miss you. I am BLESSED to have known you and I will NEVER forget you, my amazing beautiful friend. Love, Love, Love, Maura (Mo, MoyRah)

Please find below photos of a memory I’ll forever cherish. She titled this memory “Birthday Bar Class” which was filled with hours of roaring laughter. There’s no other way to remember Kiira without each moment spent bursting into hysterics. Negative energy did not exist in her world. No matter how much time had passed without speaking or making plans to spend time together, we always made an effort to see each other for birthday celebrations. This particular event took place in the Hollywood Hills on 9.19.15 with our mutual friend Gina and Stella Rose, my fur baby. Kiira introduced me to Gina who is now one of my best friends and we both endlessly thank Kiira for the introduction. She also never ceased to mention in each invite “Beasts Included.” These are some of many instances which exhibit Kiira’s love of togetherness and her wheelhouse of love. After a few glasses of wine then sprinkles with wine (see 3rd photo from the bottom), we took to the best fake laugh challenge ( 2nd & 4th photo from the bottom). Needless to say, we were all winners. Next, insert the dancing ballerina’s taking flight and all too soon landing in a barre class. I’m grateful to Gina for capturing this day with photos because it’s not my strongest suit. As the sun basked in glory before bidding adieu, we welcomed not a starry night but the twinkling lights of the City of Angels. Not long after, the twinkle took hold of our eyes thanks to a fat blunt we shared. We wondered if the beast sparked up from contact high as the three of us were rolling around on the most fabulous shag rug. Beast and ballerina’s consciousness launched in flawless harmony as we reminisced about the past and all the fun we shared. I wish that day lasted forever but I suppose that’s what memories are for.

Kiira, It’s hitting me so hard tonight that you’re no longer physically here. I miss your laughter, the way people gravitate towards your light, your breaking into dance and song. I miss your playlists, silly animal videos, and your two cents. I miss how you magically knew how to calm me down, build up my confidence, and make me feel safe. I can’t believe this is the first holiday season since...I can’t actually remember, that you’re not actually here. It was painful to not celebrate the opening of Tesoro BH with you, not only because I’ve never opened a store or pop-up without you, but also because we met through my mother’s Tesoro when it was on the corner of Canon. I can’t believe we’re not going to Tana’s or Craig’s to celebrate the best sales day of the year this month. I could never be the retailer I’ve become had it not been for you and your love and support. I would never have had the courage to say yes to the Fred Segal opportunity had it not been for you. I miss you terribly. You were always the wind beneath my wings. You always let me play the superhero while you took the role of sidekick. When I hugged you goodbye in Oahu in September, I knew it would be the last time. I tried not to cry but I couldn’t stop the tears. I didn’t want your mom to see me in that state, so ducked into the bathroom to dry my eyes. I could hear you talking to your nurse. The last thing I heard you say was “that was my friend Tara. She’s an awesome retailer and has these really great stores in LA.” Until the end, you were my champion. I love you, miss you, and hope I can continue to make you proud of me. As the sun kissed the Pacific goodnight at Kaimana Beach, I was told that the key to living into your 90s was lots of good sex. Oh, and being social too. This was just one of the many lessons I learned over the last few days on Oahu. Through a part in the curtains, I spied a cattle egret hanging out on the rail of my bedroom balcony. I stood quietly making eye contact with this cosmopolitan heron. I was very confused by its visit as this species is known for hanging out in fields to look for insects. I suspected it might have a message for me. Being white, it could be associated with angels and the afterlife. It could also mean that life is filled with miracles and joy. You only need to know the direction in which to look. I experienced a miracle the next day. I awoke before the sun and headed out to Lanikai beach to greet it. I walked along the white powder beach until I found an unobstructed view of the twin islets, Na Mokulua, aka The Mokes. I sat down under the gray sky and waited. A fisherman waded over my way and interfered with my peaceful view as he cast his line. I collected my towel and continued south towards the beached outriggers. I settled in on a spot dotted with Ghost crab holes and spied some popping in and out while I waited for pukana la (sunrise in Hawaiian.) Soon, the sun rose behind the clouds. As it climbed, its sunbeam illuminated the water and extended out towards the shore. The light reached me and I could feel it on my knees. I knew in that moment that the universe had my back. It had moved me from where I was earlier to where I needed to be to receive the light. I suppose this secretly happens all the time. We just don’t see it. Funny how those sneaky miracles operate. You don’t need to see them. You just have to trust that they happen all the time. For example, the next day I went to Whole Foods in the early morning before the neighborhood cafes had opened. I sat in the parked car finishing a phone call with the east coast. I was sharing my thoughts on this visit to see our friend who is battling brain cancer. She’s staying at her mom’s house in this quiet side of the island. There are no hotels here and only long-term house rentals so there are almost no tourists. When I hung up, I walked to the market entrance. “Trevor? Trevor!” I couldn’t believe it. I bumped into a Tweak customer. The perfect combination of timing and awareness. I phoned the shop to share my news. No one was surprised. “Of course, you bumped into someone you know. You know so many people.” That is my number one blessing in having a retail shop. I get to connect with lots of people every day. Perhaps this means I’ll have a long life too? With coffee in hand, I went for my final visit to my sick friend. She wasn’t well enough to sit up when I arrived. I told her my funny story knowing she would probably recognize this customer from the times she helped me in the shop. She laughed. She spoke about how our energy is always here even if our bodies aren’t. When I told her that it was time for me to go to the airport she suddenly sat up and asked for a hug. I held on. I gave her a normal “so long, back to LA” goodbye. But I realized on this day, the day of my late mother’s birthday, that it probably was more than that. My tears flowed. I headed out for my flight with my life lessons from the trip. Love and friendship are the best medicine. Trust in miracles. It’s never goodbye. Just because the sun sets and is no longer in our sights, doesn’t mean it’s gone. It’s simply shining its bright light elsewhere. Aloha. Sadly, at 52, I know how to write a condolence letter about a parent. Not only have I had enough practice, but also I know the right things to say having lost my mom. But what I can not do is find the words to express what it feels like to lose a friend, especially one who was family. I loved Kiira for her enormous heart and tremendous humor. I miss her always but today’s FB memory really hit home. Mother’s and Father’s Day is always uncomfortable for those of us who have lost parents. I can’t help to think about my mom when honoring the man she made a father. I always say, “You can’t control the length of your life but you can control the width. Kiira lived wide and I hope you do too. To honor the memory of our friends and family who aren’t here, please call the ones who are and tell them you love them.