Sad summer so far.

[Jake D]

I've recently gone through a couple bad events (explaining my absence from the forum).
In the last month, my 24 year old cousin, Ryan, died suddenly of a heart attack.  He was born with a heart defect.  Given two weeks to live, he had two open heart surgeries before he was two.  He lived to be 24, played baseball in high school, made many friends, and recently purchased a new home.  He wasn't a big man, or a tough man, but he was a real man.  He taught Sunday school and was a man of God.  
On the forth of July, a good friend of mine from law school died in a jet ski accident at the age of 31.  He was already one of the best trial lawyers in the state and had a four month old son, McCaine Jr.  

You never know, so be good and honest, and try hard to leave your mark.   I'll do the same.

[Stephen072774]

Dang Jake, that's heavy stuff.  I am sorry for your loss.  You have my prayers as well as the families involved...

[Jake D]

Very much appreciated.

[nisus1]

i've had a bad one too, but pales in comparison to that stuff... sorry to hear it and like stephen said, you and yours will be in my prayers.

life is a test, sounds like they aced it...

[Jake D]

I'm doing fine.  It was bad, though.  

What made my cousin's death worse was my aunt and uncle had lost another child years ago to SIDs (so now they have survived two of their four kids).  And he was such a sweet kid.  

McCaine's death was bad too.  He was struck in the head/neck by another jet ski which was piloted by another one of my friends (who was like a brother to McCaine).  So, not only is his loss bad, but my other friend isn't doing that great either.  Pretty powerful feelings of guilt there.  But is was a freak accident, caused in part by a boater that came too close to them.

[Roadstergal]

Damn, man.  

But - 24 years, when given two weeks?  Even though 24 is too young to die, he certainly gave a helluva fight.  

[RVertigo]

I'm sorry for your losses.  Remember them kindly...

[Cal Price]

My thoughts are with you. Some people will tell you that you'll get over it in time, my experience is that you never get over these things but you do get used to them and the pain eases.

[scratch]

Prayers of wellwishes for you and your freinds.

[The Buddha]

The best to their families and you ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[yamahonkawazuki]

Dang Jake, that's heavy stuff.  I am sorry for your loss.  You have my prayers as well as the families involved...

. damn man lotta stuff to go thru, i second the above. goin thru a lot of the same

[gazingwa]

Sorry Jake, hang in there

[natecoop]

so sorry to read such news. condolences and prayers to you and your family.

[Jake D]

Thanks for the kind words.  People go through this stuff all the time, sad to say and I'm not special.  That is for sure.  It just kind of freaked me out because they were both close to me and both my age or much younger and they both were remarkable.  And the proximity, the tragedy, and the suddenness.  Just. . . no more phone calls like that, thank you.