A tribute to a young man...

a young man who only had 12 birthdays.  He only had 12 Christmases and 12 New Years.  I was never blessed to meet him. His  Mom and I are friends.  We met only 5 years ago, but the Head Honcho knew his Mom 'Blondie' all through high school and even when this young man was born.  The Head Honcho even remebers this young man as a baby.  This young man should have turned 21 today.  A special birthday.  Blondie would have for sure celebrated with him.  Unfortunately, he never reached his 21st birthday.  He was taken too soon at 12, in a car accident.  He was rollerblading (if I recall the story correctly, remember I really only recently met Blondie) and was hit by a car that ran a stop sign.  Sickening.  Every.Parent's.Nightmare.  Blondie never got to say goodbye or I love you to him.  They were trying to save him.  Try as they may, he was so special he was called to heaven at only 12 years old to take care of bigger buisness. 

A heart wrenching story right?  Something that a family member can surely not forget.  Losing a child under such horrible circumstances.  Why world, why when Blondie commerates his birthday on her facebook page with something along the lines of birthday in heaven, why do people 'like' it and even worse, offer to buy drinks and tell him to rock on?!!  Hard enough for Blondie to reach December 27 every year.  But now, you insensitive jerk (whom by the way are related!) tell her son who is flying behind her every step of the way to rock on?!  Take a class on class.  You my friend need to understand that sometimes saying nothing is best.  Sometimes being a shoulder is better than voicing a misguided opinion.  Please understand that while you may go on day to day and not have to bear the burden of not hugging your child or telling them you love them, some people are not as blessed.  Think of them often, ask them how they are doing.  See if they need to talk.  Be a friend, be someone who cares.  Remeber that child's birth (and sadly) death date and check on them in the weeks before and after.  With all of the technology today it isn't much to drop them a line here and there and see if they need you.  A true friend would.  Be that friend.