Today's post; however, won't be quite so happy. Today ..... we laid one of the 'old gang' to rest.
When I was barely old enough to begin grade school, we began camping at Cherokee Landing State Park. The park superintendent lived in the house at the top of the hill with his wife and six kids. I got to know most of the kids well, became very close friends with some of them (and still am to this day), spent a large part of my summer hanging out with them, and visited them during the winters. Our dads were great fishing buddies (now THERE were some story tellers for ya!), and we kids became like extended families..... like close cousins.
But very sadly ..... at just 41 years young, the youngest one of that fun and caring group of kids was laid to rest today, leaving behind two young children of his own. It was a HORRIBLE shock, and I am still numb and speechless. This was faaaarrrr from expected! It just doesn't seem real. And it was very, very strange burying someone on Memorial Day weekend.
Although I am still in regular contact with a couple of them, it had been many, many years since I saw any of the rest of the six. Although it is really nice to get to see old friends, talk, and catch up on what they are up to these days, I find it VERY SAD that we wait for a funeral to do this.... that we wait until one of our own is gone. We are all guilty of it, but we should really make a much harder effort of staying contact with those that we care about and not put those little talks off for another day. Life changes quickly and you never know when the next day is too late.
RS, when I think of you, great memories always come to mind and a warm smile to my face. REST PEACEFULLY. You are already greatly missed and will remain forever and fondly in our hearts.
