For Raymond Gone To Soon

When I think of you…..I think of….

Coffee on the campfire

The smell of pine

A lone coyote serenading the moon

The lap of water at a riverside camp

A hidden fort in the “your not allowed here woods”

Your resourcefulness when close to the edge

Your kindness and the help you gave to friends and strangers

Adventures we shared

Your tales of joyous times with the boys

I will always miss you Ray

I whistled to you last night on the breeze in your direction

Our secret signal

Tuck it away and whistle me back when you see me coming

I am still in total shock that this happened. Ray and I were not together anymore as a couple, however, I have never not loved him and prayed for the best for him. I pray that now he is at peace and has no fears and only feels and knows love and light. I peat for my boys and pray we will be able  to grieve this loss together if and when they are ready to do so. I don't know what to say right now. Take care of one another, all of you, please. All we have that means anything at the end of the day is our acts and compassion and love...Ray and I needed help and never got it. And now me and the kids are in pieces an we need our family and community to support us. 

Love, love and more love 

He was a sweet happy third grader when I first met Raymond and it was so fun to reconnect with him on Facebook a couple years ago. I recognized the 3rd grader in him right away even though by then he was well past 50. Ray really knew how to make the most of this medium and I so miss his many self portraits with various props (the big sunglasses and head dresses were truly fun), his artwork and stories. For me Facebook will never be the same, nor will life itself for his family and friends. All I can say is thanks for being in our lives Raymond!