What can I say?

Life has been interuppted this week as the City of Buffalo mourns the loss of 2 great hero's, 2 firefighters who lost their lives in the process of saving others. Firefighter Chip McCarthy, and my long time friend, Jonathan Croom. On Thursday, many of my fellow classmates met at the Amigone Funeral home on Delaware Avenue to meet the members of the "four wheels" - Jon, Jarel, Will, and Corey and say goodbye to Jon. We couldn't let them say goodbye alone. It was so aweful. Many people knew and loved Jon, but for those who didn't, he didn't have a mean bone in his body. He was a blessing to all, always ready and willing to serve and help. He loved everyone. He truly was one of the great men who deserves the honor of Hero.

Friday was the funeral, which I didn't make, but I did meet up with the rest of our classmates to celebrate Jon's life and memories. I have so much that I could say, if I could just organize my thoughts a bit. I can't seem to verbalize all that I feel. I'm in awe of his mom. A strong beautiful woman who has demonstrated now exactly where Jon got his inner strength and character from. She is so strong for everyone. A true matriarch. I pray for comfort and a time to grieve for her, and then a time of peace and that the memories of Jon would live on forever. I pray for his children, Johanna and his unborn son, Ingrid - his fiance. My heart just aches. I want to offer anything I can.... but I am not that close to the family. I thank God that for all accounts, Jon knew Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior.

I feel like I've now, just now, truly entered adult hood. I can't ever recall another time, when my adult hood has faced me so obviously. It's just such a poignant situation - and it reminds me to never take my friends, my family for granted. To know what is important in life, and make sure I make my priorities the right priorities.

God bless the family and friends of Jon Croom - he will be missed, and his memory lives on forever.