The universe and my heart are just plain broke today. Shock and numb are my two primary feelings. Words fail. And for me that says a lot. So, a brief story: While his parents had honored me early in my recovery with a request to be a god-parent, before the twins were born we hadnt decided which of us was going to stand for which of the boys (although in fact it was always kind of a 2-for-1 package deal). Riley, however, revealing right from the start that he would never be one to wait for an invitation to do anything, went ahead and chose me, spitting up all over me at the dinner table at the tender age of 3 weeks. I was a marked man. That was 22 years ago just about to the day today. I remember having heard around the time the boys were born that they would likely be the first generation to have ever lived in three centuries, if life expectancy kept increasing as it had so far. What a miraculous wealth of possibilities they would encounter. I thought of that again on his birthday this year, when his dad and I drove down and took him to dinner in Farmville. He was starting to think just a bit about life after graduation, and the possibilities were enormous. Driving was a huge challenge for him, and in his dogged way he took his time and rose to meet it. I drove down and followed him back from Farmville to home a couple of months ago on his first “solo” drive. He drove flawlessly during the part of the drive where this happened. Never had any doubt for a second that he was OK driving on the highway. In town? Well, nobody’s perfect… All I can say is I love you, doode.... Rock on, say hi to Quinton, and thanks for sharing your way-too-brief time on Earth and your way-too-many bad jokes with me. And the bear hugs! Not getting picked up and squeezed on Christmas with an overstuffed gut aint going to be the same. Maybe Sam will do it... ∞ TJ People, do me a favor and tell the ones you love that you do, as often as you can. Hold them close (but not too close). Life is beautiful, yet still so fragile in so many, many ways. longwood.edu/2014releases_59643.htm In spirit...
Posted on: Sat, 13 Dec 2014 04:28:22 +0000
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