I had a great Christmas with the kids in Branson. I left on the 24th and came home on Saturday the 28th. I sat down to look at all the newspapers from that time and checked the obits. I was shocked to see my next door neighbor, Troy Smith, in the obits. I didn't really know him well but we spoke and he was real helpful the first time I subbed at the Middle School.
He was only 48, married with two grown kids and a toddler grandchild. He taught Social Studies (I believe) and also coached. There will be a lot of confusion at the Middle School after the holidays. I did not go to the services and the paper said he had already been cremated.
I don't know why I just can't get this out of my head. There are a few similarities between Jim and Troy but I don't think that's it. I think maybe it's just the finality of death. One second you are alive and the next a memory. So strange and hard to wrap my mind around. How can someone just cease to exist? Gone. No laugh. No smile. No touch. Just gone other than memories. Seems so wrong.
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