Sadness...

Our nephew died today. He was a good kid, a young man of 26. His name is Jeff. He just didn't wake up today.

He was just a little younger than our son Matt, and just a little older than our son Thom. They used to play together when they were all learning to walk and talk. Matt couldn't say little Jeffy's name correctly so he called him 'Hivey'. I have always thought of Jeff as Hivey through the years.

Hivey had the cutest way of babbling on and on about whatever his baby mind was trying to communicate; he would use all the inflection any of us use, including facial expressions, but his words were darling baby nonsense.

I haven't seen Hivey in many years, but I know he is precious to his parents Dave and Nancy; and adored by his younger brother T.J. I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like to lose your child, a beautiful young man just coming into his prime. Jeff has been building a new house and building his life in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His parents have recently moved home to Twin Falls, Idaho.

Dave and I might be going to Tulsa, and/or Twin Falls in the next few days. If you would like to send condolences to Dave and Nancy and T.J. I would be happy to send you their address by e mail. I won't be blogging for a few days; it just seems too frivolous right now.