Thank you so much. I appreciate it.

It is. My friends asked me to be the one to contact the family so I had the honour of taking that torch on. It was emotionally draining. I spoke a bit more of it in the above responses. Its shocking. He was young. Only 20.

Thank you Skado. It was so unexpected. I explain more above. Worst of all, the car that hit him ran. The police are currently searching for a White SUV that killed him.

Thank you. I appreciate it. I really do.

It was his, too. I am heartbroken. He was just a kid.

@Sadoi sorry my dear.

The sidewalks arent plowed here early in the AM and he had to be to work by 530am every day so he was riding his bike to work. He recently asked me if i could start driving him on days when the snow was the worst because he'd already almost been hit a few times by having been forced in to the road due to lack of plowed sidewalks. I told him once i started on second shift, i'd be getting home around 230a most nights and hence id be awake around 430 so i could take him. But... clearly i didnt make it to that. i start 2nds next week.

@Sadoi So damn Sad... my best thoughts to you and his loved ones.

He was just... so young. He was like a kid brother to me. His family kicked him out of his home and we lived next door to him so he stayed with us for a bit. I used to take care of him. We just spoke last night. We were making plans to meet up for dinner. Worst yet, he was hit right around the corner from me. As a matter of fact, i awoke today around 430a to the sirens and went outside and smoked a cig in my car and watched the lights. I thought it was just another car that slid off the road on the ice. I had NO IDEA it was my "little bro" out there. No idea... i Just had to meet with his family. All my friends put me in charge of finding out what to do and with making contact... so I did. It was difficult. Im just in shock now.

@Sadoi I can't give you a real hug OOO takes a lot to be strong. If you try to rationalize it it will drive you crazy. The best thing is to reflect on the memories hold them dear for those travel with you every where.

Thank you It was so unexpected... so shocking. I still havent words for it and I am in shock, I think. It is going to be a difficult night, that is for sure! The support I received from so many of you here, though, it was quite touching. Thank you, all of you. So very kind... and I am in awe of the compassionate concern.

They are broken up, to be expected. I saw them tonight. It was very difficult. All of my friends were too upset to come to the family and the vote was to send me in. I explained in my above responses. I was the one that went to them and it was tough. It was tough... i lost it a couple of times, but im known for my resolve and my steadfast nature so I pulled it back together, but now that im home, and alone again, its heavy on my heart and on my mind. I have to fight to keep from breaking down into tears. He was a young guy. Only 20. I was like his big sister. I think thats what makes it hurt the most for me... he was too young. He was just a kid in a mans body. My 9 year old son was very close to him too and he is upset. So sad. Thank you. I appreciate your words Jnei.

Indeed. I just spoke to him last night. We made plans to meet for dinner next week. He was young. He was like a kid brother, only 20. It has hit me hard. And it happened right around the corner from my home. I was actually awoken to the sirens and went out to my car because it was so cold and smoked a cig and watched the lights. i assumed it was just another car that slid off the road, but i had no idea it was my baby bro over there... dying... im heartbroken... Thank you for the condolences.

@Sadoi Wow. I so get you on this. I lost a friend on December 28th. He was in his late 30's. Died of a heart attack. I originally thought it was a suicidal overdose but now, I think it was accidental. It's still messing with me. I'm carrying an anger and a sadness that do not belong to me but, I can't shake either of them.

Thank you friend. I always enjoy your comments, btw. I appreciate the words. He was such a young guy. Thats probably the most haunting part of it all. I explained more in the previous responses. I just havent the wherewithall to type it again. Its been so rough a night as im sure you could understand.

Thank you my friend. I appreciate the thoughts.

Thank you sir. I greatly appreciate it.

Always and forever. I consider whenever i lose friends, and I have lost many in my lifetime, that my life is no longer my own. I share it with those I have lost already so that if and when I make it to the end, as best I can, I will now every thing good I did in this lifetime, it is a devotion to those I love. I live my life for us both now and in that, he will never be gone because so long as I can draw breath into my lungs, so will his life live on, within me. Its is the greatest tribute I can make to him and to all those ive already lost. I live my life to be a good person because I believe i am a reflection of all those that passed too soon. Thank you for the kind words.

Thank you so much. I appreciate the kindness. BTW, from what i can see of your photos, you have beautiful eyes. Just thought I'd mention that. And again, thank you.

Thank you my friend. Much appreciated.

Thank you. I was sent in to meet with the family as a representative of our group of friends. None of my friends well mentally well enough to tend the task and i happen to be the one that remains calm and collected. Even still, it was heartwrenching an event.

@Sadoi It must have been a terrible shock to you all.
If you need to talk I'm here and I'm sure there are others here would be happy to help.

Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Its been rough, indeed.

He had recently run in to issues in route to work because he has to be there by 530am and the sidewalks are seldom plowed well enough for his bike and he was forced into the road many days. He had already had a few close calls. I was intending to start taking him to work next week when i switched to 2nd shift, but clearly i didnt make it to that.

Thank you so much. I appreciate it.

Thank you, my friend. I explained more above. I just havent the heart to type it out again. It is disheartening, for sure. Im shook over it.

I, too, am a cyclist. I don't ride in the winter because I have a car and im not too fond of the snow. I am a calif native so this snow is not my forte. It also lead to how my friend passed away.

@Sadoi Yes I see people riding in my town in the snow and often they are difficult to see and cars are not expecting them. Oh, jeez, I just noticed we're both Michigan. I'm in A-squared. I'd better check the news on this. Again, I'm so sorry for your loss.

@marmot84 It happened in Holland Michigan. It was also a hit and run. Police are still searching for a second vehicle that hit him while he was injured and then ran. So sad.

@Sadoi That's terrible. I lived in Holland for 18 months. I was a visiting prof. at Hope College.

@marmot84 oh really? My best friend was also a visiting prof. at Hope College in the Mathematics Dept! How funny! So you know my town?! Or at least, the town where I reside.

That about sums it up for me too:

Oh no, accidents? I know the holidays are rough for some people and suicide is also a common occurance around the holidays. Or was it natural causes? I am so sorry for your losses too, my friend. I hope you are doing better these days. And thank you for the kind words.

one was a heart attack and I'm not sure of the other yet and my neighbour died of a heart attack just before Christmas. I hate winter and the holidays. lost a well-loved dog last January the third and after that lost a sister to cancer and my mum had a heart attack so nothing good to remember really. I am still a bit down but you cheer me up and ditto about the kind words x