10 Years...Gone but Never Forgotten by melodyrussell

View this thread on steempeak.com
· @melodyrussell ·
$0.29
10 Years...Gone but Never Forgotten
Since 2009, January has been kind of a tough month for our little group of friends and family. We lost two of our very good friends...two days in a row in January 2009. Ten years ago...an entire decade....

 I'm being a bit selfish and kind of writing this entry for myself as I dig back through old photos. (But you're welcome to continue reading if I haven't lost you yet) ;) 

To this day, I've never found the "correct" mode of grieving, so I just like to look back on old photos to reminisce and enjoy the good times that we were able to share with those that are no longer with us. 

They were sons. They were brothers. They were uncles. They were cousins.  I can't begin to imagine how their deaths affected their families, but they were our friends. Their deaths affected us too. 

![Picture 080.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmVJLe1r5sB1t7aFugwoPrss956Cb4CDeW5vxAmU3TEmzr/Picture%20080.jpg)
*In January 2009, one of our best friends, Tim, was killed in an automobile accident.  In this photo, he can be seen in the corner playing drums. Our other dearly departed friend is in the same photo by the window, grinning and sipping a drink . As if Tim's accident wasn't one of the most devastating things that could ever happen, we woke up the __very__ next day to find that our other good friend, Kenny,  had died from cardiac arrest in the middle of the night.*

We were young. We were naive. We thought we were invincible. 

How wrong we were. Death is inevitable, however untimely. And death does not discriminate. 

But as I mentioned, I never learned to cope with their deaths as I felt I should have. I've always had to be the "strong" one when unfortunate events occurred, so I'm not much of a "crier".  I always find myself looking back through old photos. And I always find myself laughing or smiling. (I know, I know...How inappropriate)  ;) But it's my coping method. This is what I have left of them. 

And while old photos may be few and far between, I am so thankful that we were able to freeze a few moments in time with these guys. So now, I'll focus on the good memories. 

![1tim shovel mel.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmdehz9uHWzKUFsHxSCB7P8LwEGxcpxjUiX4EJRqD9GkKD/1tim%20shovel%20mel.jpg)
*I met Tim through friends of friends, and eventually we ended up playing in a band together. We bonded instantly.  We were always goofing around.*


Some of my favorite memories with Tim were driving through a cow field in his Blazer with SLAYER blasting out the windows. Lighting off roman candles in the middle of the road when a car might have come through...Hitting golf balls off of the roof...


![CIMG7655.JPG](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmfC59c5WEfpbeGZtfwf83YjPLGvYEZ6tsuAtEehAWDN9h/CIMG7655.JPG)

![CIMG7880.JPG](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUUwKBDFW8sDshCzxdg5Zs2dEk6agNviy1Fbt4x1oNug5/CIMG7880.JPG)

Tim was outgoing, silly, loud at times, and openly affectionate.

Then there was Kenny....

![IMG_3822.JPG](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUy5AmqFZNyKY2H3A9hTRG8xMS3gzWd8SgV95uHRdkJh3/IMG_3822.JPG)

Kenny was a man of few words, but there was no doubt that he loved his family and friends more than anything in the world! Besides fishing...Kenny loved to go fishing and that's how he and Jason became such good buds. Ten years ago, Jason could sleep all day. I'm talking about a full 24 hours. Kenny would call him and leave messages on our answering machine saying, "Jason!!! Wake up man. It's a beautiful day and we need to go fishing!" And Jason would wake up and go fishing. 

![Kenny Jason TC.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmS85fbsEpoYbAc14Bu9LnkfJpg5kcQCHxrhPw1xmt7VDu/Kenny%20Jason%20TC.jpg)
*This was back before camera phones were common. They took this photo on a hike with a "point-and-shoot" little camera. And I''m __SO__ glad that they paused for a photo*

In closing, I would just like to remind you to say "I love you" to people that mean something to you. Tim never said it. He always punched me in the arm and said, "See ya later, buddy!"

Kenny never said it. He just said, "Hey, it's gonna be nice out tomorrow. Let's go fishing."

Just be sure to let people know that you love them, one way or another. "I love you" comes in many different forms.  You never know when the unthinkable might happen.  Let's be kind to one another. Let's appreciate one another. Just ...be nice.
πŸ‘  , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
properties (23)
post_id68,859,573
authormelodyrussell
permlink10-years-gone-but-never-forgotten
categorylife
json_metadata{"tags":["life","death","grief","memories","nostalgia"],"image":["https:\/\/cdn.steemitimages.com\/DQmVJLe1r5sB1t7aFugwoPrss956Cb4CDeW5vxAmU3TEmzr\/Picture%20080.jpg"],"app":"steemit\/0.1","format":"markdown"}
created2019-01-15 23:58:54
last_update2019-01-15 23:58:54
depth0
children8
net_rshares504,618,420,091
last_payout2019-01-22 23:58:54
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value0.224 SBD
curator_payout_value0.063 SBD
pending_payout_value0.000 SBD
promoted0.000 SBD
body_length4,353
author_reputation12,429,236,291,513
root_title"10 Years...Gone but Never Forgotten"
beneficiaries[]
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 SBD
percent_steem_dollars10,000
author_curate_reward""
vote details (25)
@keylibeth ·
$0.05
Buena reflexion, tienes razon no se sabe cuando sera nuestro ultimo dia!!
πŸ‘  
properties (23)
post_id68,859,832
authorkeylibeth
permlinkre-melodyrussell-10-years-gone-but-never-forgotten-20190116t003648260z
categorylife
json_metadata{"tags":["life"],"app":"steemit\/0.1"}
created2019-01-16 00:06:48
last_update2019-01-16 00:06:48
depth1
children0
net_rshares80,424,074,608
last_payout2019-01-23 00:06:48
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value0.035 SBD
curator_payout_value0.011 SBD
pending_payout_value0.000 SBD
promoted0.000 SBD
body_length73
author_reputation108,809,462,926
root_title"10 Years...Gone but Never Forgotten"
beneficiaries[]
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 SBD
percent_steem_dollars10,000
author_curate_reward""
vote details (1)
@melinda010100 ·
A lovely tribute to your friends. It is so hard to lose them. Even as I get older and I know it's becoming more and more inevitable it is never easy.
properties (22)
post_id69,006,929
authormelinda010100
permlinkre-melodyrussell-2019118t206352z
categorylife
json_metadata{"tags":["life","death","grief","memories","nostalgia"],"app":"esteem\/1.6.0","format":"markdown+html","community":"esteem"}
created2019-01-19 02:06:36
last_update2019-01-19 02:06:36
depth1
children4
net_rshares0
last_payout2019-01-26 02:06:36
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value0.000 SBD
curator_payout_value0.000 SBD
pending_payout_value0.000 SBD
promoted0.000 SBD
body_length149
author_reputation230,851,836,224,276
root_title"10 Years...Gone but Never Forgotten"
beneficiaries
0.
accountesteemapp
weight1,000
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 SBD
percent_steem_dollars10,000
@melodyrussell ·
Thanks Melinda :) We learned a very hard life lesson at a very young age and I am grateful for every day with my loved ones!
properties (22)
post_id69,053,678
authormelodyrussell
permlinkre-melinda010100-re-melodyrussell-2019118t206352z-20190120t040934812z
categorylife
json_metadata{"tags":["life"],"app":"steemit\/0.1"}
created2019-01-20 04:09:36
last_update2019-01-20 04:09:36
depth2
children3
net_rshares0
last_payout2019-01-27 04:09:36
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value0.000 SBD
curator_payout_value0.000 SBD
pending_payout_value0.000 SBD
promoted0.000 SBD
body_length124
author_reputation12,429,236,291,513
root_title"10 Years...Gone but Never Forgotten"
beneficiaries[]
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 SBD
percent_steem_dollars10,000
@melinda010100 ·
My little brother died 10 years ago of a massive heart attack at age 48. He was my only sibling. I understand.
properties (22)
post_id69,055,117
authormelinda010100
permlinkre-melodyrussell-2019119t23147591z
categorylife
json_metadata{"tags":["life"],"app":"esteem\/1.6.0","format":"markdown+html","community":"esteem"}
created2019-01-20 05:01:51
last_update2019-01-20 05:01:51
depth3
children2
net_rshares0
last_payout2019-01-27 05:01:51
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value0.000 SBD
curator_payout_value0.000 SBD
pending_payout_value0.000 SBD
promoted0.000 SBD
body_length110
author_reputation230,851,836,224,276
root_title"10 Years...Gone but Never Forgotten"
beneficiaries
0.
accountesteemapp
weight1,000
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 SBD
percent_steem_dollars10,000
@old-guy-photos ·
Yes! I really liked this post. Death is all around...posts like this remind us to celebrate life.
properties (22)
post_id69,052,114
authorold-guy-photos
permlinkre-melodyrussell-10-years-gone-but-never-forgotten-20190120t031441720z
categorylife
json_metadata{"tags":["life"],"app":"steemit\/0.1"}
created2019-01-20 03:14:39
last_update2019-01-20 03:14:39
depth1
children1
net_rshares0
last_payout2019-01-27 03:14:39
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value0.000 SBD
curator_payout_value0.000 SBD
pending_payout_value0.000 SBD
promoted0.000 SBD
body_length97
author_reputation242,971,623,482,939
root_title"10 Years...Gone but Never Forgotten"
beneficiaries[]
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 SBD
percent_steem_dollars10,000
@melodyrussell ·
Indeed! As much as we’re conditioned to resent aging, the loss of our friends taught us to embrace it and appreciate it :)
properties (22)
post_id69,053,740
authormelodyrussell
permlinkre-old-guy-photos-re-melodyrussell-10-years-gone-but-never-forgotten-20190120t041125807z
categorylife
json_metadata{"tags":["life"],"app":"steemit\/0.1"}
created2019-01-20 04:11:24
last_update2019-01-20 04:11:24
depth2
children0
net_rshares0
last_payout2019-01-27 04:11:27
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value0.000 SBD
curator_payout_value0.000 SBD
pending_payout_value0.000 SBD
promoted0.000 SBD
body_length122
author_reputation12,429,236,291,513
root_title"10 Years...Gone but Never Forgotten"
beneficiaries[]
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 SBD
percent_steem_dollars10,000