This was to be another piece.
One on teachers.
Then, later, one, on the importance of immunization.
Then, a note on tolerance.
In the end, it boiled down to one simple fact. A good man died today. And I do not mean Casey Kasem.
A world leader? No. A millionaire magnate? No. Yet, he was a man who loved well and stood by his friends. You could count on him. Will he be on the news? No. Will he be remembered? Yes.
What else can any of us ask for?
Casey Morton died today. He was good. He was loving. He was 46.
A friend of of mine wrote me because she was concerned for a mutual friend, Holly, who was very close to Casey. She asked if we (myself and another high school friend, Amy) remembered Casey? I mean, he was a year ahead of us.
Are you kidding? How could you forget Casey? Joyous, full of life, and full of love? Of course, of course, I remember Casey. I knew him in drama. He ran lines with me. He made me believe that I COULD in fact survive, even thrive, on stage. And Amy? Her first job was at the Bennett Valley Baskin Robbins (which is still there) and Casey helped train her in all her dairy glory.
And the tears flow.
Casey was an epileptic and had a seizure during which he took a bad fall. That’s all it took to snuff the light of a vibrant, affectionate, beautiful man.
Casey Morton died today. He was good. He was loving. And, I hope, he will be remembered.
My deepest, most heartfelt sympathies for his family and loved ones. He was amazing- you are blessed.
For all those we’ve lost, here’s your Musical (Almost) Monday… We’ll Burn The Sky by the immortal Scorpions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EZRN_DkN0o
Casey, my friend, I hope there is a love waiting to join you, beyond these mortal realms, flying the sky, burning the horizon.
Those we lose are no longer with us, but that does not mean, it never, ever means, that we forget.
This post was written by Erika Gardner. If you enjoyed it, please sign up to receive updates on this blog. Or you can follow Erika on Twitter @Erika_Gardner or “Like” her Facebook page Erika Gardner- Writer and Storyteller. Check out her contributions to the BBB Blog.
I hear you. I went home yesterday and cried my eyes out, raging at God for the unfairness of it all. I always thought somehow, with all the people we had in common, I’d end up in the same room with Casey again, able to tell him of the fond memories I have of him from junior high. As I told his niece, “fond memories” and “junior high” are not phrases I often use in the same sentence. Wherever you are, Casey, I hope it’s wonderful, and that I get to see you there someday.
Still crying.
I hear you. I went home yesterday and cried my eyes out, raging at God for the unfairness of it all. I always thought, with all the people we have in common, that I would eventually end up in the same room with him again, and could tell him about the fond memories I have of him from junior high, and how he made that time in my life a better place. As I told his niece yesterday, “fond memories” and “junior high” are not phrases I often use in the same sentence.
Still crying.
I’m sorry for your loss. What a lovely tribute.
Sorry to hear about your friend, Erika. He sounds like a great man. Good name, too.