Tragedy Amid Celebration

As May draws to a close it feels like summer has arrived. We are getting less rain and temperatures have climbed into the high 80s and low 90s already. Vicki observed the other day that with all the end of the school year activities our lives feel like a tornado zone.
TRAGEDY
This has been a very busy time with graduation with the end of school and Ben's graduation, but before I get to that I must share some news that has left our entire community stunned and heartbroken.

Last Thursday I was shopping at the auto parts store when Kenny called and told me that our beloved next door neighbor, Jimmie Pitt, had been found after taking his own life. I stood there in the aisle in disbelief, hearing but hardly comprehending what I had just been told.

Mr. Jimmie was 83, and while showing a few signs of age, was still very physically fit. His obituary notes that many called him the Ambassador of Cross Plains, and I would agree with that. He and Mrs. Susanne are the most wonderful neighbors to have next door, always doing what they can for everyone around them. Mr. Jimmie was always helping out with projects to benefit others. There's no telling how many ramps he's had a hand in building around here. There have been several times over the years when he stopped what he was doing to help me do something. Three big projects that come to mind are the times he helped me replace my water heater, when he helped me install the storm door on the front of Pauline's house, and when he helped me build a ramp for Pauline when she broke her foot. The night we moved Pauline here from Camden he was one of the people who came over at midnight to help us unload the truck so I could return it on time. I could go on.

Lately Mr. Jimmie had been struggling with the stresses on life, but he had been getting help. We all thought he was showing signs of improvement. Now we're going to his funeral this afternoon.

GRADUATION
Ben's graduation was a week ago Saturday. The only thing to mar the happy occasion was that Ben's best friend, Corbin, was sick with allergies and a viral infection. He was not contagious so he came, but the poor boy received his diploma while running a 102° fever.

I think where we were actually the most proud of our son was two days earlier at the last chapel service of the school year. This was a testimony chapel and Ben told us a couple of days before that he had signed up to give his testimony. Ben chose to talk about losing his friend, Ethan, exactly nine years earlier. Those of you who have been reading our family news for the last decade will recall that Ethan was diagnosed with a Stage IV brain tumor when the boys were in the second grade. It was so hard to watch as he underwent all the treatments only to lose his battle with cancer at the age of nine. Like losing Mr. Jimmie today, our entire community was devastated.

I can't say that I've ever heard Ben speak much about Ethan's death in the last nine years. I've known he struggled with it, you don't see your boy visiting the grave of his childhood friend and not know that, but he has chosen to hold those feeling close to his vest all these years. So Vicki and I were very proud of him when he spoke in chapel, telling about how he felt and offering encouragement to those who deal with loss.

The next night we went to East Robertson's graduation. While it was interesting to see the kids he would have graduated with had we not moved to DA, we were there because Ethan's parents, Farris and Robin, received an honorary diploma for their son. Ben and Wil sat with Ethan's family.

I must say that East Robertson really honored him well. They left an empty seat with a cap and gown on the front row where Ethan would have sat, several of the students who spoke mentioned Ethan, and all in attendance gave a long standing ovation when Mrs. Cook presented Ethan's diploma. Kenny and Lori hosted a get together for Ethan at their house afterward. I think the entire evening meant a lot to Farris and Robin.

THE USED CAR LOT
We have added another car to our driveway. We've been debating for quite a while about our transportation needs and what sort of vehicle to get. We have five drivers now and our schedules are diverging more and more. Up until now the boys have gone most places together so they've done fine in the Jeep, but now that Ben has graduated and no longer has cross country training over the summer he and Nate will be going their separate ways more and more. Jenna's car, while reliable still, is probably going to need to be traded by the time she graduates from Trevecca in December, moves back home, and begins commuting to Hendersonville for nursing school. So, my wheeling and dealing wife found a 2008 Ford Edge that checked out as reliable and snapped it up. Years ago I knew this day was coming.

Joe