For the past two months one of our neighbors has been taking Brandon to Wednesday night church with her kids.  We don’t attend church and I have my own beliefs, but I believe my kids should make their own choices with religion, so I don’t mind him going. 

Two weeks ago I was driving into my neighborhood and I saw this family across the street from their house in the large church yard.  It’s a common sight.  The family goes over and plays football or baseball, or plays basketball in the street.  Any neighborhood child that comes along is welcome to join.

The mother is ill with MS and cannot work or play with them as much, but she is always outside sitting down in a chair, blanket on her lap in the cold, watching and cheering them on.

As I drove past them two weeks ago playing ball in the church yard I remember clearly thinking, ‘What a wonderful family.  They are always out doing that.’  They have always been nice to Brandon, and while kids will be kids (and therefore sometimes be not-so-nice) – the kids have been nice to Brandon, too. 

Like all families they’ve had their struggles and problems, but watching them play ball in the yard you could see that things were good. 

Last night their father was killed five miles from our homes.  He was driving home from work when a guy (with a .21 blood alcohol level) raced through the intersection he was crossing and all but demolished his car.  He died in the helicopter on the way to the hospital. 

The word was passed quietly from neighbor to neighbor last night, and I was faced with telling Brandon.  In typical Brandon-style (so like my own) at first he was fine, calm even.  I knew it wasn’t sinking in, he wasn’t getting it.  But when he came out a short while later, the tears were quick to fall.  This man had been nice to him, was the father of his friends. 

I’m still trying to figure out how to help Brandon deal with it.  I’m still trying to figure out how to deal with it, myself.  I wasn’t close with these people, but they were our neighbors and they were good to our kid.  She still has children to care for, and her own illness to deal with.  I’m certain that our friends and neighbors will get together and figure out a way to help out…but right now I’m just stunned…

And left realizing again that every moment is precious and to treasure it.