Buckle up

This weekend, a friend died. Shane Stewart and his wife Cyndee have been good friends for as long as our kids have been around. Tracy knew Cyndee from Aims and then their two boys went to the same daycare as our two boys. We went to birthday parties together, t-ball games, even had a couple parents-only nights out dancing (Shane was the only one of the guys who actually liked dancing).

Shane was also a firefighter. On Saturday, he was driving to help out on a medical call when the truck he was driving went off the road and flipped over, throwing him out. The cops say he wasn't wearing a seat belt. That's actually pretty hard for me to believe because he was a very conscientious guy. But in the heat of a call, who knows what happens.

I've been in a haze since I heard the news. Shane was only 33. His kids were each just a little younger than my two boys. I can't imagine what they are going through right now. Logan is the youngest (7 or 8) and he is just adorable kid. Blake is the older brother (9) and is the spitting image of Shane (actually both boys are). Alex and Andy always enjoyed playing with them even though we don't see them as often since they live in Pierce and go to a different school. But we see them every year at Relay For Life and at various events around town and when they get together, it's like no time has been lost.

Cyndee has a great support system in her community with family (lots) and friends. But my heart breaks at thinking what they will be missing out on without Shane.

So, just as a reminder, for Shane's sake and the people you love ... buckle up.