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This morning I heard the voice mail alarm go off on my cell phone that was recharging on the nightstand while I lay half awake wondering if it was anything or anyone I cared enough to get my lazy self out of bed for to check. Most people that KNOW me would never DARE call this early. Grizzley bears need their beauty sleep too.

Curiousity overcomes apathy by a very narrow margin since certain conditions render it highly unlikely it's a certain well regarded moderator having a mid-life crisis.

It's Vanessa, Ruth's bridesmaid and one of her oldest friends, that I actually like compared to tolerating. She always calls my phone because it's Ruth's OLD phone number and several attempts to update her have gone by the wayside. The voice says it's important and I have Ruth call back but telephone tag ensues and we forget it.

Looking back on what 4:15 pm was going to bring into my life I wish I had pushed the tag game harder.

I check my last blog with a comment from AndaveYa about calling and good advice ffrom Meg which I pass on to Ruth. I call Andave to let her know I'm back in the salt mines with the usual version of OUR tag game.

At 3:58 pm Ruth calls with some news regarding the kids (trick or treat updates) and I sort of move her along as I'm getting set to face the AAA board here. We're not too busy thankfully as I'm unaware I'll be brooding very very soon.

4:15 pm my cell goes off and I look hoping to see Andave's name instead a number I still haven't memorized. I'm on the phone with a driver so whoever it is gets told to stand by--in the back of my mind I keep hoping it's a repentant IRS agent calling to apologize for being so greedy in getting their own back.

I finish with the driver and hear Vanessa saying "My turn now??!!"

"Yeh--what's up?? " My life is about to be emptier --again.

Troy M. was working at a store and four men came in and shot him. He lasted a day and a half.

I have trouble for JUST a moment processing. Troy. Hadn't thought of him in years. Literally hadn't seen him since at least 1982. When he graduated high school he enlisted into the Marines right away. I tossed a copy of Sgt Rck Annual #2 for a present at him. As far as I know he always kept it.

My OTHER major memory of him other then his being one of the finest young men I ever knew and a credit to family, friends and the Marines was being the very first to realize he had an eye on Kelly,his future wife. I observe people and what they do and take a great interest in this sort of thing since my own life is pretty routine and ordinary. I watched him give a present to Kelly at church and in his calm quiet manner saw a definite admiration for this young lady. Knowing Laurie (who masterminded my wedding) who was on top of everything in the Sunday School Singles group but less inclined to notice the nuances in her own family I was totally rejected when I gave her notice of the way of a man with maid to her. And yes I rubbed it in with great glee when my suspicions bore fruit to a very happy marriage indeed.

I start making the appropriate noises to Vanessa while admiring her calmness. An unexpected strength. Not sure If I have the M. family number and Vanessa isn't sure she's allowed to share it. This does not bother me-- my ego is past this sort of thing--my own fault I have left the connection lapse. I assure her Troy is in Heaven having a bit more faith about HIS position there then my own as some here are aware I have sins that reflect poorly on pretty much every aspect of my life--sigh.

But it's true --the good die young. The killers have been caught and charged with murder. I desire justice and pray for a unhardened heart. Vengeance is hollow--even for the Devil Child.

I'll be telling Ruth later when I get home about this sad event. She will bear it well and when she gets a hold of Laurie I'm sure will be of some comfort to her.