Goodbye to a Friend

I got one of the most disturbing messages on Wednesday, November 3.  I was on my way to work, just dropped the kids off at school and noticed that I had a Facebook message from a friend that I went to college with.  Of course my initial reaction was, "Oh!  Chuck wrote me a message.  Wonder what that's all about?  Haven't heard from him in a while!"  But then what I read, I wished I hadn't... his roommate in college and good friend, who was also a friend of mine was killed the day before in a tragic car accident.  When you read something like this or hear something like this, it is very surreal.  It took a while for this to sink in.  And then once it did, I could not help but cry.  I cried for his loss, I cried for how it happened, I cried for his family, his friends, how young he was... the list goes on.  Even though I haven't seen or talked to Trent in years, I still got very sad and emotional about all of it.  Not only because of his loss but how quick and spontaneous life can be.  He was just doing what he did best, helping someone in need, and his life was taken. It breaks my heart that his little girl (who is 3) will only have faint memories and pictures of her daddy.  And it makes me pray and pray that my children will never have to face something like that.

I knew right away that I wanted to go to the funeral even though it was going to be in his hometown of Longview.  But I struggled with who would watch the kids since Gabe had to work, and the long drive there, etc.  So I contemplated not going, but then something really strange happened.  I was at work a few days before the funeral and I engaged with a customer with why she was renting a vehicle/where she was going.  Would you believe she was driving to Longview for a funeral!!??  No, she wasn't going to Trent's funeral but rather a family member's.  But still... small world, or what????  I definitely took this as a sign that I needed to go to my late friend's funeral.  The big man upstairs was giving the final push that I needed!

I worked it out with my parents to watch the kids so that I could go.  I drove from Limestone to Longview!  And I made it.  Without getting lost, I might add.  And that was without a GPS!!  Lol.

It was good to drive alone.  I remembered all of the laughs and good times that we all shared in college.  Bid Days, Frat parties, Mixers, Panhellenic/IFC (Trent and I were both officers), numerous nights at The Fox, etc.  Trent was definitely a riot, that's for sure!

The funeral was sad, of course but I was glad that I went.  I saw a lot of people that I hadn't seen in a long time.  And it gave me a chance to catch up with Chuck and his wife Margaret.  The service was very nice.  It was definitely a celebration of Trent's life with lots of pictures and stories.  

I had to literally dig out some photos... Lol!  Man this was a long time ago!

Chuck, Me, & Trent

Rest in Peace, my friend.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. – Revelation 21:4