Saturday, March 17, 2012

March 17, 1998

Early on March 18, 1998, the news came on the radio.  I thought 'how sad', as I heard that two young men had died the night before in a horrific car accident, broadsided by a speeding police car. 

Moments later, a friend called. "...did you hear about Eddie & Andy?..."
Their Mom, my 'junksista' Kathy, and I had just begun to get acquainted.  She worked at the school that our boys attended and after discovering a mutual love for 'old stuff', we'd recently teamed up to do our first show together.  

Andy, (top right), was still in high school.  He was quiet, artistic, and had a gentle heart for the less popular among his classmates.  

Eddie was out of high school.  Eddie was 'out there' in life, all action and full of fun. He and my oldest son were friends and played baseball together.  My fondest memory of Eddie is him standing at the plate, waiting for a pitch, wearing a grin as big as the moon.  

Half of Kathy's children were gone in an instant.  I don't know how she's done it, but from the start, Kathy simply chose to go on 'living'.  The grace of God  has sustained her these past fourteen years.  The difficult days are tempered with the knowledge that Andy & Eddie are not gone 'forever', but are waiting in heaven for her.  Her two younger sons are now fine young men.    

Hugs to you today, my friend.  We will never forget your sweet boys.

15 comments:

  1. I don't know Kathy, but my heart goes out to her on this sad anniversary of loosing her boys. I'm glad to hear the Lord had been by her side these 14 years.

    Blessings,
    Angie @ Knick of Time

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  2. I truly believe the boys are still watching over their Family and will be waiting to greet them all some day and be together forever. I am sending big hugs to all of you as you remember the boys and all they meant to you. Take care!

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  3. What a sweet tribute to Kathy's two boys.
    God bless you all.
    xxoo

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  4. You just never foget something like this. Yesterday my husband was burned at work and I got that dreaded phone call. I stranger on the other end of the phone telling you to get to the ER is not a moment you forget.

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    1. So sorry about your husband, hope it is not too serious?
      Jan

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  5. How sad- your heartfelt tribute in honor of Kathy's boys/for her family is very touching. I'm sure it is friends like you that help the family to keep "living."

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  6. This is such a sweet letter to your friend. It brought a tear to my eye, as it would to anyone reading it. Life is such a gift, and I know Kathy will be with her boys again. As is says on my parents head stone, "We shall meet again".

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  7. So sweet of you to post this tribute. I often wonder where people like Kathy get the strenght to go on.

    Goedele

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  8. Awwww, Jan, you've gone and done it. Blinking tears now. Thank you for your sweet and thoughtful tribute to my guys. Yesterday was low-key around here and you didn't mention (typical) you had posted such kind words in Eddie's and Andy's memory so I am only just today reading your post and the comments of your Dear Readers. When anyone asks how one "does" it when a tragedy like this occurs, it is always hard, no...impossible, to point to one single "secret" or nugget of wisdom to share. The greatest influence for me was knowing that the God who sustains us daily and Who we thank for the blessings in our lives, has never revealed himself to be anything but truthful and unchanging, as we often see in our earthly relationships. He doesn't "get up on the wrong side of the bed". He doesn't "have a bad day". He always keeps His promises...to give His children a "hope and a future", to not bring them harm. While we had never been challenged in such a way before, I knew which fork in the road I would take and made a conscious decision to hang onto His promises with every ounce of faith I possessed and then asked for more strength as those times came when I felt inadequate to the task. Knowing that friends and family were also lifting us up in prayer was HUGE and tangible. It is Sunday so I'll allow myself one admonishment...PLEASE don't wait until your boat is sinking in the middle of a storm before you try and learn how to swim...God is waiting wherever you are to teach you to trust Him. Our guys are missed terribly but we know we'll see them again when God decides our work here on earth is done and He calls us home to be with Him and with them. God Bless all of you for your kind and sweet comments!
    HUGS!Kathy

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  9. Awwww, Jan, you've gone and done it. Blinking tears now. Thank you for your sweet and thoughtful tribute to my guys. Yesterday was low-key around here and you didn't mention (typical) you had posted such kind words in Eddie's and Andy's memory so I am only just today reading your post and the comments of your Dear Readers. When anyone asks how one "does" it when a tragedy like this occurs, it is always hard, no...impossible, to point to one single "secret" or nugget of wisdom to share. The greatest influence for me was knowing that the God who sustains us daily and Who we thank for the blessings in our lives, has never revealed himself to be anything but truthful and unchanging, as we often see in our earthly relationships. He doesn't "get up on the wrong side of the bed". He doesn't "have a bad day". He always keeps His promises...to give His children a "hope and a future", to not bring them harm. While we had never been challenged in such a way before, I knew which fork in the road I would take and made a conscious decision to hang onto His promises with every ounce of faith I possessed and then asked for more strength as those times came when I felt inadequate to the task. Knowing that friends and family were also lifting us up in prayer was HUGE and tangible. It is Sunday so I'll allow myself one admonishment...PLEASE don't wait until your boat is sinking in the middle of a storm before you try to learn how to swim...God is waiting wherever you are to teach you to trust Him. Our guys are missed terribly but we know we'll see them again when God decides our work here on earth is done and He calls us home to be with Him and with them. God Bless all of you for your kind and sweet comments!
    HUGS!Kathy

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  10. This gave me chills and brought a tear to my eye. Indeed, we are called to keep on living, to go on when it seems impossible with the hope of seeing our loved ones again. Thank you for sharing!

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  11. This gave me chills and brought tears to my eyes. It is never easy to go on when all we want to do is die too, but we are called to continue living, and with God's grace and hope we are able to do so. What a good friend you are to remember.

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  12. Only the grace of God can take you through that kind of loss. My mom lost a child and nearly did not recover from it. Blessings to your friend and with confidence I know she will see them again.

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  13. Oh, I cannot begin to imagine how difficult this would be...it is a truly a testament to her faith that she was able to go on, living a full life, and raising her younger boys...XO

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  14. Having met Kathy & looked into those smiling eyes, I can honestly say I saw no indication of the heartache a tragedy of this magnitude would leave....A testament no doubt to her faith & belief in a greater power....

    I on the other hand having read this just now, am a mess & can only hope that if I ever faced something similar I would do so with the grace & dignity Kathy has....!!

    You're such a sweet Friend Jan & this post is a beautiful tribute to these young souls....!!

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