The world became a little emptier a few days ago. A wonderful spirit was taken from this earth, leaving behind a rippling circle of broken hearts. I woke up three days ago to the news that a friend from school had been killed while on vacation in Thailand. We weren't super close, but we hung out, and were tied together by the threads that inevitably bind kids who grow up together in small communities.

Jesse was an amazing guy. He came from a big family (6 kids) and their house was home base for so many childhood adventures. His mom is my inspiration for raising my kids like I do. She raised five boys and a lone girl, and was always ready with a hug for anyone who needed it. She forever has a smile on her face and the most awesome twinkle in her eye.

Jesse was her, in male form. From all accounts, he was equally at ease while hunting or fishing, or when snuggling with his niece or nephew, reading about fairies or dump trucks. I don't ever recall seeing him without his thousand mile grin, or the same twinkle that lives in his mom's eye. He was full of love and laughter, and wherever you went, whatever you did, if Jesse was there, you knew you were going to have some kind of adventure. You also knew that he wouldn't let anything happen to you. He would just appear at home here, with no warning, back from another one of his adventures. You'd be walking down the street, when all of a sudden you'd find yourself warmed, and there'd be Jesse, giving you his special grin. Then he'd be gone just as quickly, off to follow his heart wherever it was taking him.

He was supposed to be home soon. Last week, his mom posted on her facebook about how happy she was that she would soon have all her babies back home. He replied with "maybe!". That's the last post from him on her wall.

The numbness is just now wearing off for me, and I am left trying to comprehend and make sense of the gaping hole that his death has torn in our lives. I cannot fathom the grief that his family is facing. More than anything in this world, I wish life had a rewind button, and we could pull him out of the path of that train. I wish I could go back to last week, when I took his presence for granted, and nievely thought he would just always be there. I see reminders of him everywhere, like his very existance was woven into the fabric of this place, and he's standing all around us, grinning his special grin.

RIP, Jesse. You are so loved, so missed, and so mourned. Your light will shine in all those who now walk thiis world without you. May we, in time, come to face your passing with the same gentle calm and fearless acceptance with which you lived your life. Thank you for all that you taught us, through your words and your actions. You have left us better people than you found us, and we are forever in your debt.