When you're numb, you feel the most...

When I signed on to Facebook after work tonight, the chat window popped open with a quick note from a very good friend, "Did you hear about Roger?"  I love getting those pop up chats from my good friends, but I never like those unexpected internet conversations that begin with "did you hear about..." because they usually mean something not so good went down.  Having not heard anything and wanting to prove my theory on the foreboding conversation starters, I clicked on Roger's Facebook page only to see several postings from today saying that he would be missed and including the occasional RIP comment.  Just last night, he had posted about what music he would be spinning at the Dock.  What had happened?  My friend didn't know for sure; he had been trying to call people in Cincinnati, but had not had any luck.  He and I had both moved from Cincinnati around the same time, but have always kept (and always will keep) the strong roots we planted there over the many years in that beautiful river city with such fantastic friends.  If we couldn't get someone on the phone, I knew we could find something with Google - so that's where I turned and that's where I found the brief news story about how Roger had gone off the road and driven into a building.  He was pronounced dead on the scene.  As I finished the last sentence, I went numb.

My mind wandered through memories of seeing Roger's smiling face and talking with him about anything and everything.  He was always such a joy and, definitely, what my mother would call "good people."  His energy was infectious and his inner-light was contagious.  The memories came faster, eventually flooding my thoughts and meshing into one continuous loop.  I sat for a while and enjoyed the show - and tried to provide an appropriate soundtrack which would make Roger smile from his DJ booth on high.  While lost in the flow, I found myself back on his Facebook page and reading aloud the simple line under his profile picture.  I think it sums up well, the way Roger lived his life and loved his friends.  "Be strong and be brave and begin your story..."  Roger was strong.  Roger was brave.  And he was just beginning his story.  I hope that we can continue it for him.

Roger Courtney, you are loved and you are missed.  Thank you for the friendship.  May you rest in peace.