nielsons*love*family: picking the scab...

Summer has started out with a bang.

Quite literally.

The 17 year old boys blew up an old TV in the backyard.

At 11:30 pm on Saturday night none the less. I yelled
at them really loud. They didn't care.

Then, on monday--the first official day of the summer break,
on their way to the desert to blow up their home made "bomb"
a funny (but oh so not funny) thing happened.

All the boys left with promises of returning alive
and with all their body parts in tact.

Apparently I was the only mother who knew. And in case
of police calls, they were all coming to me. Kyle, who
is much more calm in these situations, was of course,
out of town.

I made the sign of the cross (that always helps in
these situations) and told them I would kill them
if they died. They were pretty worried...not.

One boy returned a short while later.

I texted my son to see why Nate had come back and
was missing out on all the fun. These boys don't
SKIP opportunities to watch things blow up.

Long story short and many texts and questions later,
he sent me the answer,

"mom, nates dad is dead".

I burst out weeping...and tears have been leaking
out ever since.

Josh's best friend, Nate. Ron, who was his 2nd dad.

If nate isn't at our house, Josh is at his house.
That's just how it is, and how it has been, for 6 years.

Everyday, all week. And the weekend. Except for sundays.
And sometimes when they should be in school and aren't.

They are still here.

Nate's dad was 50. Ron. We vacationed to bear lake with them
in the summers. We sat at basketball and volleyball
games with Ron for years. Ron coached Josh's basketball
teams, fed teen boys with "waffle night" at his house.
Ron LOVED the boys in the way only a good dad can. And
the boys LOVED Ron. The boys told me yesterday
"he wasn't just a regular dad, he was our friend."

Ron always told Josh (and all the boys) he would kick
his butt if he ever did drugs. (I'm holding him to that,
and hoping its possible from heaven if need be!)

Ron had the biggest heart of any man you could hope to meet.

LITERALLY.

He would give you the shirt off his back, then
his pants and a shoe or two if you needed it and
never ask for it back. Or care if he got it.

Just when the scab is healing, for me, a new one
is touching way too close to home.

We are all in shock.

Death has swept in his ugly hand, again, and snatched
away another soul. Quickly, and without pause, at the
pain he (death) will leave in his wake.

Numbness has set in once again at the way life can change
from one minute to the next.

At 7:15 Monday night, the world was right. A half an
hour later it had shifted and tilted at an awkward angle.
Throwing us all off yet again.

50 is too young to go and my heart is so sad. It aches
for all of things that will be missed. Milestones.
Especially in the coming year for Nate.

The first day of summer break. The summer before Nate's
senior year...and his dad is gone.

Josh has been asked to be a pall bearer at the funeral
on Saturday. Ron was josh's 2nd dad. Josh DID have
a retake of the ACT scheduled ...but we know which is more
important.

Supporting a friend and taking the test another day.

Rest in Peace Ron, your big heart, laugh and smile
will be greatly missed by us all.

Till we meet again. And maybe you could check on my
dad for me while you're at it.