W.J.R.

Today a friend of mine will be removed from life support. While arguably one of the more intelligent friends I have - he was by no means very smart. He overdosed on heroin and was found, a John Doe in Philly, brain dead in a coma. He leaves behind a mother, father, two sisters, a brother and a son – a young son. Neither words nor reasons will satisfy why this had to happen.

Do our choices to proceed with our life the best we can inadvertently close doors of help behind us to others? I wish I knew. I didn't even see this coming. Is it OK to walk away from a toxic situation for the good of your family - believing 20 years of behavior wont change, but hoping somehow they still can?
If I could rewind 22 years and just smack him on the head and say, "This is it, life is here. We have to grow and do the best we can. No excuses, no dallying, no more kid stuff. No one can help us but ourselves. So lets go out and kick ass. If at first you don't succeed try again and again and again. One day you will succeed and have the responsibility of another life to care for, and he will inherit your name. Nothing you have ever done will matter now - it's all about the kid. So ditch the baggage of a misspent youth and suck it up cupcake."

I must leave Sunday for Florida - I don't even see being able to attend a service.
If I could just give him that smack in the head...

Just remember it’s never too late to try again, or try harder. Never too late to see how great things can be.