Rosemary's Blog

23 – Today is July 23rd, the day my sons Drew and Jeremiah were killed back in the year 1992.

23 – The number of years since a car accident took their lives.

23 – 7:23 AM, the time I set my clock to wake each morning.

23 – Today’s date where a multiple shooting has just taken place at a multiplex theater in Lafayette, LA while I am writing this blog. I pray for the parents who are just now beginning this long road of grief. Our dear friends Callie and John Berzas and their immediate family members from Mamou and Lafayette are safe but others are suffering.

23 – July 23, 2011, the date Amy Winehouse died at age 27 in London, England. Luther and I recently saw the movie “Amy” and had never realized this talented, troubled artist had the same angel date as Drew and Jeremiah.

23 – An unlikely lucky number for our family but one that Drew and Jeremiah have chosen to let us know they are always around.

23 – The number of millions of tears I have shed in the past 23 years.

I miss you boys. I am one day closer…

Love,

Mom

As I sit here this morning thinking about my second son Jeremiah, I am taken back to this day thirty-eight years ago when he first graced my life. Jeremiah was an old soul. He rarely slept because I think he knew deep down that his time on this physical plane was limited.

Jeremiah, both you and your brother Drew are missed today almost twenty-three years after I last saw you drive away from my drugstore that beautiful July morning. You both were so excited about what was ahead for you both those next few days in Indianapolis and the rest of your lives. You had reason to be excited. Drew had just graduated from The McCallie School, was headed to Rhodes College and had found the girl of his dreams. You on the other hand were just on the brink of manhood. You had spent that year as a freshman boarding student at McCallie with your brother but it was now your time to step out from his shadow.

Jeremiah, you were a wonderful big brother to Jordan. I know how much he misses both you and Drew because he talks about you all the time. Luckily he is open to bringing up all the wonderful family memories we all share. He was left as an only child when the two of you passed together. Imagine that feeling of being the only son left to fill the shoes of all three of you. Not an easy task.

I miss your smile this morning. I miss those big blue eyes. I miss that big lower lip. I miss that love of life and energy. I miss your keen intelligence. I miss your birth mark that you and I share. I miss your clothes being laid out the night before school in your room that had everything in its place. I miss your red and black baseball cap that honestly I wore every night for years after your death. I miss your quick wit. If I had a nickel for every time one of us has said, “If I make it I make it. If I don’t, I don’t,” I would be a rich woman. You always loved teasing your mother. How I would love to hear you do that one more time again.

Tears flow this morning for the time I have lost with you and Drew. I know you are always around me but sometimes that is just not enough. I will see you again one day soon.

Love,

Mom