Sad

I receive "Breaking News" alerts from my local newspaper via e-mail. Yesterday, I opened the link discussing a traffic fatality. A 25 year old man was killed. He lost control of his truck, hit a utility pole and flipped his vehicle. He was partially thrown out of his truck and crushed under his car. He was not wearing a seat belt.

I knew him.

Jeff was a karate student at our dojo during his teen years. Jeff's father walked in the dojo over fifteen years ago and asked my husband if he would accept his son as a student. Jeff was bullied in school and got into some trouble when he started fighting back. For three years Jeff was an active member of the dojo community. He rarely missed a class, participated in demonstrations and competed in tournaments.

Jeff progressed through the karate ranks and earned a brown belt before he stopped taking classes. At a community carnival, Jeff defended his sister and was attacked by several older boys. He fell and sustained a compound fracture to his arm. Jeff was in a cast for months and never returned to class.

It has been at least ten years since Jeff has been to the dojo. His name plaque still hangs on the wall. He will forever be part of our dojo community. My thoughts and prayers go out to your family and friends.

May you rest in peace.