Oregon Public Broadcasting

Thursday is the one-year anniversary of Natasha Richardson’s tragic death.  The actress died from a head injury she got during a skiing lesson in Canada.  She was only 45.

Jackie Hooper lives in Portland, and is in no way connected to Natasha Richardson.  But she was unexpectedly touched by the news.

"It really struck me.  The news had a lot about her.  I was following it pretty closely.  And it made me start thinking about how quickly people come in and out of our lives, and how too often we wait to say something to them, and then it’s too late," she said.

A year ago, Jackie Hooper became inspired to come up with a way help people communicate with their loved ones, especially when – because of death or other circumstances – they can’t. 

She went around to schools and retirement homes, and asked people to send her letters they wish they could send to others.  What she got became the raw material for the website The Things You Would Have Said. which features a new letter every day.. She said she found a real hunger for an outlet like this.

Listen to Geoff's full interview with Jackie .

Listen to Jackie reading a letter from a woman to the child she chose to abort.For more, please visit: The Things You Would Have Said