there's extra reason to think about what i said about thanksgiving in the prior post.
i've lost family members before, the closest ones being my grandpa charlie and uncles al and shelton. but never one younger than myself.
my nephew nick was killed tuesday night when he lost control of the car he was driving and slammed into a tree. his friend who was with him walked away, was able to call for help, but by the time they were able to get him out of the car, it was too late for much.
nick was 17 years old. was a junior in high school. an athlete and artist. i'd watched him grow up ever since my brother married his mother more than a decade ago. the last time i saw him, at the chilton family reunion in pilot mountain back in september or so, he had changed so much. i hardly recognized him, literally, he had begun to physically mature so much. i watched him and my other nephew, evan, throw baseball out on the lawn of the community center we were at.
i think about how great an older brother nick has been for evan. and i worry about him. most of all, i just want to see my brother and sister and give them hugs.
i woke up this morning shaking. and much like when my grandpa charlie passed, i can't really talk about this without tearing up.
i miss being the uncle of three people. god speed, nick.
