Several years ago I was sitting in my folks back yard with my nephew Mitchell, hmmm, critiquing my mother's cooking. She heard us, came to the window and said something about her cooking not being that bad and right then her smoke detector went off. Mitchell and I looked at each other and couldn't stop laughing for what seemed like forever. So many memories like that have come flooding back since I got the call Thursday night he was gone.

Such a great kid, who was becoming such a great guy. Last year we were shooting the breeze about something and it hit me we were two adults having a conversation and not me talking to a kid. Or no longer two kids talking to each other as I haven't really come to grips I'm not 20 anymore.

I can't quite fathom he's gone. That there will be no more times someone says something ludicrous and we lock eyes and know we both get the joke. His sister Brittany and I do that sometimes as well.
I wish I could do something about the pain in my mom and sister's voice. But I can barely deal with mine. Even now, when everything hurts, I dont envy those who aren't close to their family. Family is everything, I love mine even when they drive me crazy, Mitchell will always be part of mine.

And I have some good memories to hold on to. And I will.