Blessings From Aaron's Friends

Summer days of 2005 were painful with the sounds of graduation parties in the neighborhood and brutal seeing Aaron's friends going off to school. God those days were torture to my mind and body. My brain would scream to me about the insanity. How could my son be dead? And the tears--oh my there were floods of tears.

The kids went off to school and I know they were there; I've seen Facebook. Well, actually there are no pictures of classes but they were somewhere and their college experience photos look alot like college kid pictures. I've seen some of these friends of Aaron's--they're young adults now. Hardly resemble the little kids and carefree high school students we remember. They're all just a pleasant as ever.

When I hear from any of the friends of Aaron I consider the message they share to be a blessing. Around Christmas I heard from one guy that he had a dream of Aaron. The message Aaron had for him and their friends was "Be Free--Live Free". Aaron is free. I know that. I've heard from messengers who let me know what Aaron needs me to know.

Today an email came from another friend of Aaron. She wrote, and I cherish this message:

Mr. Meyer, I went to school with Aaron and was friends with him while he attended DeForest Middle and High Schools. I believe that Aaron had the best happy go lucky attitude towards everyone and everything. He was always cheery and very easy going. I enjoyed getting to know him as a person and was pleased to have him has a classmate. I remember hearing about the Aaron House a while ago and I came across your website tonight. I think that this whole project is awesome!! It is very needed in the area and across the country!

I can say I remember Aaron was easy going and happy and it sounds like parental pride. For a person who was friends with Aaron to tell me what their impression of Aaron is, I know it's true. Softened in the pain of grief are the rough edges of our existence. However, I know the rough spots. I don't hear enough about the softe side of Aaron and if he was 3D there were two and a three quarters sides of softness to that little edgyness he kept for protection.

My little apartment in Madison is called Walden. Like Thoreau's Walden Pond cabin, this is a place of few luxuries. I like it this way. Dogs and friends are welcome for visits. This is a place of serenity. A place to read and write. There is no dishwasher--except me. No cable. I can vacuum, clean the bathroom, take out the trash, do the dishes, and mop the floor in 10 minutes. If Doc's here add 5 minutes for him dumping the trash and generally getting in the way of every where I go.

Aaron, Patrick, and I share a fondness for ideas well written. Aaron kept a log of quotes he heard. It's on a small yellow pad in his bedroom still. I read a quote he and Patrick would like. It's a Latin verse and the latin I did not remember, but the english translation I kept. Emerson used the quote in his discourse on Compensation. Here it is: "Things don't stay mismanaged long." They sure don't.

Life at Walden is peaceful. I have gratitude for the messages I receive from Aaron's friends--they remind me that he lived so I can for a moment forget that he died.

Thank you Chris and Tessa.
Tom