When I was young I lived on a street teaming with kids unfortunately they were all boys and all younger. I became a tom-boy by proxy I suppose. One of my best friends was a guy ...though I am not sure he ever knew it... His name was Scott Kirkpatrick. He moved in one day and with him his mom, dad, and baby brother. We became good friends I would like to think in the few years that he lived on the street. He introduced me to Crocodile Dundee and 17-year Zicadas. I was truly upset when his family moved away a few years later. But he and his family left an impression on me and in my life. A few years back I ran into him at the theater that I have been a part of for many years. He was in a show called Freedom of the City and he played a part of a soldier.
I found out last night in the middle of dinner that a few years ago he joined the armed forces and that this past weekend was killed over in Iraq. I didn't take part, much, in his life but the few years I had were memorable.
I am numb with grief for his death and his family that was left behind. There are no words to say to them that would ever hold the value of the life that was lost. He left his mark on my life and from what I read a mark on many of the lives he came in contact with.
If you would like to read about him the post has an article
here.
