In loving memory...

“'You'll get over it...' It's the clichés that cause the trouble. To lose someone you love is to alter your life for ever. You don't get over it because 'it' is the person you loved. The pain stops, there are new people, but the gap never closes. How could it? The particularness of someone who mattered enough to grieve over is not erased by anyone but death. This hole in my heart is in the shape of you and no one else can fit. Why would I want them to?” - anon

Corey Lee Ostrem

September 6 1987 - January 23 2006

Today I write in memory of my good friend Corey who passed away today one year ago. It was a car accident that took him away from us that night and I will never forget the phone call I received the next morning with the fateful news.

But what I do not want to remember today is that day. I want to remember all the fun we used to have together. I remember after school or work we would race along the 6 or so mile stretch of high way between our town and our houses. He in his Datsun and me in my Cavelier. It was a good match and I think we were tied as far as wins and losses went when he got a pickup with way more horse power than my little car and I could no longer out run him without cheating.

I remember how I first became friends with him. We'd always rode the bus together and our mothers were friends but one day on the play ground in grade school I defended the honor of a few girl friends of mine by kicking him in the family jewels. We were friends from that day forth. There's just something about a girl who can kick you in the balls....

But most of all I remember your smile, the one where your whole face lights up and your blue eyes would sparkle. The one you'd use when you saw a friend, or heard a joke or talked about your girlfriend. It was that smile that I loved the most, that smile that warmed my heart, and that smile that I will remember forever.

“There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are messengers of overwhelming grief...and unspeakable love.” - Washington Irving