Some Splainin' To Do

About my last post -

Jake was my son Brad's friend.

One of his best.

Jake was a friend to many.

He was the kind of kid that... when you saw his shoes at the front door in the morning, indicating he had spent the night in your basement... you smiled.

You knew your child was keeping good company.

His parents are great people.

No one should experience this kind of loss.

This blog was started as a way to sort out my personal feelings, and the twists and turns of life.

I have met many great people and have posted art work here, but it remains, my personal journal of sorts.

I am not here as often as I want, but that means life in being lived, I guess.

I do miss the friends I have made here.

After a week of witnessing a family go through unimaginable grief with grace, strength and love,

I still can't wrap my mind around it.

Looking for the positive -

A community embraced a family in a way I had not experienced before.

A grief stricken family comforted others when they couldn't possibly have had anything left to give.

Teens comforted each other and helped each other stand tall.

Adults that had bad stuff between them, dropped all that and stood shoulder to shoulder.

Love flowed with tears.

And I watched my son become a man

as he took hold of the casket handles, lifted, carried and did one last, most intimate gesture

for a friend he will never forget.

Loss is inevitable, as my family keeps finding out.

It means that you've had many fine people in your life.

You are blessed.

If you are so inclined, please say a prayer for Jake's family and friends.

Hug the ones you love.