I Forgot...

I try to keep this blog to mostly book reviews and a few of my interests, but occasionally some of my personal life slips out. Put simply, my life is stressful. Often life makes me forget about things that are important to me.

July 31st I forgot something pretty big. I was stressed about school because my classes ended on the second. I completely forgot about him. You see that young man in the picture? He was a very good friend of mine. His name is Drew. On July 31st, 2003 Drew was in a fatal Jet Ski accident. He was 14. This is one of the last pictures taken of him. Losing Drew was probably one of the hardest things I have ever had to deal with in my life. I still think of him almost every day. His birthday is the day after my sister's so I don't often put flowers on his grave for his birthday, but without fail every July 31st for the past 6 years I have been there.

This year, I forgot. I had planned to put a post up about Drew and how funny he was and what an amazing guy he was. I wanted to tell you that he was no angel, but this kid was one of the most awesome people who I have ever met. I wanted to cry about missing him, and let you guys share my pain. And I do miss him more than anything in the world. But I know why I forgot this year.

Drew doesn't want me to dwell on his death anymore, I can just feel it. Drew was a funny kid, his quote in the yearbook was "Seize the Carp" not Carpe Diem. No, he wasn't stupid, this was his way of saying don't just seize the day, dammit, do more! Drew wasn't an angel, as I said before. He died doing something dangerous, doughnuts on the lake. But did he have fun? Yes. Did he ever second guess a decision? No. Drew was the kind of person that you didn't realize could be that awesome. Whatever life threw at him he tried to come out smiling. Drew's Dad passed the year before he did unexpectedly of cancer. But Drew knew that something good had to come out of this. When a fellow classmate, Andy, was dying from leukemia Drew spearheaded the fund-raising efforts. And although Andy passed after a long hard battle (he was born with leukemia) through Drew's help our school raised enough money so Andy's family was able to pay for all of his medical bills and funeral. Drew donated $2oo of his own money alone.

I have had a very rough week. Summer school ended. I found out some pretty serious information about my sister that I won't share here. Keagan is sick again and I am headed to the vet with her after I make this post. And in general life has been coming at me full speed and I don't know how to catch up. While these could be the reasons I forgot about Drew, I think there is a bigger reason. Drew wants me to let go of his death and remember his life. He doesn't want me to cry every July 31st anymore, but instead stop by when something good happens and share with him. He wants me to do what I want to do. He wants to look down and see me having the time of my life in New York City. He wants me to Seize the Carp. And dammit that's what I am going to do! This down in the dumps thing sucks. I started out this post sort of upset that I had forgotten, but now I am even happier I can remember.

Drew, I miss you buddy, but I am not going to dwell on it anymore. I will live the life you didn't get to have. I know you would want me to.