Tragedy

[jedibuttercup]

Something really terrible has happened today. No-- not Granddad. Worse.

There's this family that's lived down the street from mine ever since we moved up from Texas eighteen years ago. Went to the same church for years, their daughter was a year and a half younger than me and their son a few years younger than my brother, and we all got along really well. Their parents and ours still do stuff best-friend-style all the time.

For us, though-- the daughter's married with four babies and I almost never see her; and the son's been in the Army in Korea, so we haven't seen him much in recent years, either. Except he got out just before Christmas. And he and his new wife have been living with his Mom, here, while he arranged things so he could stay in the National Guard, get a regular job, and look for an apartment. I helped him put a resume together just last weekend, so he could look for a job with the local police or correctional institutions.

He went fishing with his brother-in-law today at the coast. Their boat capsized. He was knocked unconscious, according to the brother-in-law, who *was* rescued, and then-- they were separated. They can't find him. His parents took off for the coast with my parents about two and a half hours ago, and I haven't heard anything since. It doesn't look good.

ETA 7PM: For those of you who know this coast-- they were in a little raft-boat up by Pacific City when something happened to the motor, and then it capsized. A-- says he held on to D-- for an hour and a half after it happened, trying to keep them afloat and swallowing water the whole time, before he lost hold of him, and it was awhile longer before Coast Guard picked A-- up. They've found pieces of the boat washing up downcurrent at Neskowin, but no D--; and the water's so cold here-- there's no chance, even if he woke up immediately after A-- lost him, that D-- could have survived. My parents are staying with his at the coast over night; their whole family's there, his wife's been weeping for six hours-- it could be days before they find his body.

I just can't believe it. He was such a good kid-- had his whole life ahead of him. God. Why?
~

Comments

[jazzfic.livejournal.com]

That is just awful, I'm so sorry. I hope you get some news soon.

[jedibuttercup]

They haven't found him yet, so--

But thanks for the thoughts.

[glam-geek.livejournal.com]

That's horrible. I hope you get information soon!

[jedibuttercup]

They still haven't found him, so-- But it's pretty clear he's gone, at this point.

Thanks for your thoughts.

[beatrice_otter]

Sometimes there is no reason why.

My prayers are with you and the family.

[jedibuttercup]

Thank you.

[wolf-j.livejournal.com]

My deepest condolences.

::bows::

[jedibuttercup]

Thank you.

[azraelz-angel.livejournal.com]

I'm so very sorry that this had to happen to that poor boy. And I'm sorry that you had to go through it as well. My thoughts and heart go out to his family and your community.

[jedibuttercup]

Thank you. It's just-- unreal. He was only 26; my "other little brother".

[kerravonsen]

Words fail me.

[iulia_linnea.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[jedibuttercup]

Thanks.

[maevebran.livejournal.com]

{{hugs}}

[tracey-claybon.livejournal.com]

{{hugs you and your neighbors}} There really aren't any words "consoling" enough to say to something like this - just that my heart goes out to you (because you're shaken and care about these folks) and - of course - to the family...

I don't know that there ever IS a reason why this stuff happens. It just does. I still ask that about my friend Mike who died 5 years ago Feb. 3rd of a brain infection - no warning, and he was just gone... I'd have never found out if his mother hadn't managed to crack his cell and found my number - and if she had found it a week later, I'd have moved and she would not have been able to let me know why I never heard back from him ... He was 33, with his whole life ahead of him, and I *still* ask why.

I don't know you personally, but I give my condolences, and the faint hope he turns up okay somehow. I *TRULY* hope for that.

Tracey

[jedibuttercup]

Thank you for your thoughts, and kind words.

They still haven't found him, but the cold, and the passage of time-- it's pretty clear he didn't survive. This next week is going to be a very bad one, for both their family and ours. He was my "other little brother", and now--

[imadra-blue.livejournal.com]

That is really sad, and I'm so sorry that happened to those people. My heart goes out to them. :(

[jedibuttercup]

Thank you for your thoughts.

On the one hand, I want to be angry at the brother-in-law, because it was such a preventable accident, and he didn't even bring life preservers along. But on the other--

He was my "other little brother". And now he isn't, anymore. =(

[izhilzha.livejournal.com]

There are no words for such times.

*hugs* for you, and prayers for his wife and family, and for your family.

[jedibuttercup]

Thank you.

They still haven't found him, but-- yeah. Coast Guard is saying "recovery", not "rescue".

This is going to be a very bad week.

[tarlanx]

I'm only just catching up on my Flist....{{{hugs}}} to you and your family and friends at this terrible time.