Heather and BabyGirl met in jr high and played volleyball together. As young teenagers they pushed the envelope in a variety of ways and tested my patience. I always felt good about Heather, though. She was responsible....took care of 3 younger siblings and did well in school. When she and mine snuck out of the house for the night, Heather was the one who knew where they'd been. BabyGirl didn't have a clue.

Heather's first love was a guy named Jason from a neighboring county who could drive. He and his buddies would come to our town and scoop the girls up for a night away from the doldrums of overprotective mommies like me. Somewhere during the high school years, Jason's mom died of heart disease and left him a teenage orphan. Her boyfriend tried to keep him down home like she would've wanted, but the rich aunt in California lured him away.

I can only imagine the high life that he lived. He came back a few times, but it was never the same. His buddies rambled all over the place trying to find themselves and Jason played football and moved to San Diego where the weather is perfect year round. Somebody found him dead in his bed last weekend.

It's a long hearse ride from CA to TN. There was an autopsy and a service there. He'll be back home this weekend with the people who knew him way back when and still love him like his surrogate Mom and his best girl.

Sure does make ya think and be grateful for what you have.

Keep the faith. ^j^