SHANE
Friday night, October 12, 2018, I arrive in Boston and the first kid arrives at Tara's house. Young, tall, lanky, polite, humble, black friend of my son's. He extends his hand to me while I am sitting on the couch and introduces himself. "Hi. I am Benny. I know we never met Mr. Kirkpatrick but I heard so many good things about you. I need to tell you something about your son Shane." Without taking a breath, he continues, "My friends gave up on me. My siblings gave up on me. My parents gave up on me." He pauses, choked up and holding back tears, "but not Shane. He never gave up on me. That is the boy you raised."In Shane's honor, who lost his life as a result of an accidental drug overdose, I dedicate this first blog entry to him. I started writing a larger piece tonight, inspired by all that is going on in the world. He left behind two beautiful little girls, Layla Rose and Aniyah Leigh who are biracial. I want to shield them from the world and wish they never had to grow up in the midst of what continues to happen. We say it is the year 2020 and cannot believe this is happening. We said that in 1965, 1978, and we can go back to the writing of the Emancipation Proclamation and yet, here we are.
Shane was filled with love, he had friends from all walks of life. He would not want to be remembered in a harshly dim lit aura of an addict's stigma. He would want us to love his girls with all his might and protect them as much as we can without missing life's beautiful lessons.
I share with you the first part of a poem I wrote, inspired by the teachings of Maya Angelou. I have listened to so much from her these past few weeks, struck by 'Still I Rise' and so many other things she has written and orated, leaving a legacy.
As the silver bird soars high though the sunlit clouds
His memory shines bright, his arms as feathered wings
Reflecting on the stories told by his friends aloud
The absence of his smile, his scent, his swagger; stings
Beautiful Tim. May we all be the change we need.❤
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful, Tim! Keep writing! As for shielding those two little girls...it's tough. But just like we can't help a chick break out of it's shell, because that's where they build their determination and strength...we can only shield those we love so much. We do our best to protect them while they build their own strength. Let's just hope we're in the "messy middle"...because if we quit trying now, then it's the messy end. I'll be following along.
ReplyDeleteThis was beautiful to read but also sad. It brought tears to my eyes knowing that Shane was such beautiful sweet soul, who was capable of putting a smile on everyone's face. Sometimes, we ask God, why does the good die young? But, I came to realize they are too precious for this earth ����.
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