Saturday, February 21, 2009

Not a Normal Post...

My son Max called me yesterday afternoon with the news that his friend Ryan had ended his life.

Ryan was 19 years old.

What makes this even more horrible is that the 17 year old brother of one of Max's friends did the exact same thing a week ago. Needless to say, we are all reeling with shock and sadness. We headed up to Denton (a three hour drive each way) last night to go and pick Max up, but hadn't gotten very far when he called - his friend had offered to drive him home, and they were on their way. So we turned around, got back home...and waited. What do you do? Besides cry, I mean. I was glad that Max came home. He needed to be home, and we needed to be there for him.

Today Max spent a few hours, along with another friend, visiting Ryan's parents. Tomorrow is the visitation, and Monday the funeral...where Max will be a pallbearer. He is just wrecked about Ryan.

While we were at the Men's Warehouse this evening getting another dress shirt for Max (he only owns one), another young man was there, buying clothes for the funeral. This shouldn't be happening. They should be buying dress clothes for dates and job interviews, not funerals for their friends.

I feel so useless. All we, as parents, can do is the best that we can. But sometimes, that isn't enough.

12 comments:

  1. That is so terribly sad. Prayers for your son and for the mothers and family of those young boys.

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  2. Those are difficult experiences for the parents and the children, aren't they?

    Best wishes to you and your family.

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  3. Awww, man. It is sad. Hug your boy tighter and listen to him when he needs to talk. Love him up some for me - makes me miss my boy right now.

    Sorry for your loss.

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  4. Oh my goodness, how horrible.

    Give Max a hug from me. I know he needs many hugs right now and reassurances that life isn't bad enough to find a "permanent solution to a temporary problem."

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  5. Very scary. I am SO glad he came home! Godspeed to them both.

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  6. So sorry to hear such sad news. It's great that your son was able to come home so you can help him through this.

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  7. I feel for you. Your family will be our Thoughts. Vee at www.veegettinghealthy.blogspot.com

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  8. that is my biggest fear.

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  9. I'm so sorry you're going through this. I'll keep you all in my thoughts and prayers.

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  10. I am so sorry for your son. A girl my daughter played softball with from 4th grade to high school killed herself last month - she was only 16.

    I really believe she did it in an attempt to get attention, but sometimes I don't think that they realize it may actually work.

    When I saw the girls dad at the wake, he was an emotional wreck, and even though I hadn't seen this girl in a couple years, it still broke my heart.

    HUGS!

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  11. I can't even imagine how awful that must be......my heart goes out to the mother, father, family. I cannot imagine losing a child........but especially like that. All we can do as parents is love our children with all our heart and teach them as much as we can when we have them........time is so often cut short.

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