His name was Devon and he was 22 years old.

I didn’t know him, but I have had the opportunity to view and cry over the pictures and stories on the memorial Facebook page set up by a fellow fraternity member.

As of this moment it appears that he was at a fraternity event watching the Nuggets game in Denver. He apparently drank too much and was asked to leave the stadium. What happened after that is unknown, but he was found nearly 40 miles away, in the middle of nowhere Colorado on the train tracks. He had been run over by multiple trains before being spotted more than a day after he was reported missing. The best guess at this time is that he wandered away from the stadium and hopped a train at the nearby rail station. Did he panic and jump out? Did he fall? Or did he get to the tracks another way? At this point there is just no knowing.

There has been another Facebook page added to highlight awareness of the dangers of drinking and to share the message to always take care of yourself as well as your friends. Always. A tragedy like this one was preventable. I am sure that all of Devon’s fraternity brothers are rethinking their evening and wondering “what if?” I wish that I could ease their pain, as well as the pain and grief that Devon’s family is suffering. The following is posted to the Awareness page and is credited to Devon’s little brother:

I only want everyone to remember Devon for what he was, a special, special person who touched the hearts of many. He was a great, gifted person who loved, and was loved by everyone. He died in the last half of his Senior year, and was such a loss to everyone who knew him. Not for the stupid series of events that led to his death. That said, we want to spread the message of being careful, that you never leave an intoxicated friend alone, because you never know what’s going to happen. Its ok to miss whatever’s going on to make sure they’re taken care of, because nothing is worth this. Absolutely nothing. And thats all we want, because thats all you can do for us, never let anything like this ever happen again. Please just let everyone know.

If you know kids (or adults) of driving age, of drinking age, talk to them. Please! I know I did with Starr, often, and I know (have learned the hard way-which didn’t have anything to do with alcohol) that talking and understanding won’t always prevent tragedy, but it MIGHT! And each and every life saved is oh so very precious.

I was torn between keeping his story private or sharing it, but after reading his brother’s plea I decided that sharing it was the way to go.

Keep the message close to your heart and spread it where possible.

©2010 The Glass Dragonfly. All Rights Reserved.

This young man’s family needs prayers and support as they move through this forever painful event. My heart breaks for them.

It is all so very sad.

And it is yet another reminder to love…now! Say “I love you!!” often and forgive. Smile and breathe. Laugh and cry. Eat and dance. Be silly. Make art. Follow our passions.

Live…and I mean really live!

…while we have the chance.

Easier said than done sometimes!!

©2010 The Glass Dragonfly. All Rights Reserved.

mp3: “For You” – Sharon Van Etten
Buy the album directly from the artist: Because I Was in Love
Sharon Van Etten-MySpace

mp3: “Numbers Don’t Lie” – The Mynabirds
Album will be released April 27, 2010: What We Lose in the Fire, We Gain in the Flood
The Mynabirds-MySpace

mp3: “Nervous” – Tessitura
Album: On The Importance of Being Confused available for free download at the link.

mp3: “As Long as We’re Together” – Andrew Morgan
Album: Please Kid Remember
Andrew Morgan-MySpace

©2010 The Glass Dragonfly. All Rights Reserved.

©2010 The Glass Dragonfly. All Rights Reserved.

My brother and me.
Northfield, Minnesota

©2010 The Glass Dragonfly. All Rights Reserved.

Cookbooks!

These pictures do not contain all of my cookbooks, I have a large stash of “other” cookbooks in another location. In all honesty, I have been good and haven’t purchased a cookbook in several years. Avoiding the bookstore has helped, because I am drawn to the cooking section…and then the spirituality section. The literature area, the new arrivals….gah! It is best that I just stay away!!

Since Starr had moved home from her apartment and was moving into the sorority house where she didn’t need any furniture, I thought that it would be okay to ”borrow” her bookcase instead of storing it in the basement. I moved the smaller bookcase to my bedroom and am using hers in the dining room/living room. I had run out of room for books in the house, the extra bookcase in my room has helped. It is almost full!! Moving these cookbooks, looking at them, holding them, sparked my desire for new books to add to my collection.

The before shot. A year or so ago, I was taking a picture of the table. I had to move the plant recently because Bella loves to jump up and skid across the table. Taking everything in her path with her!! The plant has taken a beating.

“New” bookcase.

Cubbie One.

Bella helping!

Cubbie two.

Cubbie three.

And cubbie number four. That is me, in my boots, surrounded by manure at my grandparents farm in Tennessee. Looking quite blond.

©2010 The Glass Dragonfly. All Rights Reserved.

Have a wonderful evening and a great weekend!!

My most recent post is below!!  or here —> 8 Lots of 8 Things

©2010 The Glass Dragonfly. All Rights Reserved.

8 favorite places to eat and drink
1. The Tap Room (craft beer and delicious stone baked pizzas).
2. At home.
3. Bisetti’s Italian Restaurant (local and yummy!).
4. There are so many really good places to eat and drink.
5. Too many to list.
6. My grandmother’s home. It wasn’t the food as much as it was her.
7. Backyard BBQs!
8. I have this memory from when I was 7 or 8. We were in Athens, eating at a sidewalk cafe. I had a Gyro or Souvlaki…I don’t remember…it was some kind of delicious meat, onions and tomato wrapped in a fresh warm pita. I loved it so much! 

8 things I look forward to:
1. Seeing Starr become, well, what ever she will become.
2. Grandchildren (just not yet).
3. Spring.
4. The next time I laugh until I cry.
5. Drum circle next Wednesday night.
6. Trying what ever is on tap next at The Tap Room.
7. Meeting new people.
8. Spending time with friends and family.

8 things I love about winter:
1. I
2. Love
3. That
4. Winter
5. Eventually
6. Ends!
7. Okay, I love warm fireplaces. I don’t have one.
8. I love sleeping in a cool bedroom.

8 things on my wish list:
1. I wish to avoid alzheimers.
2. …and cancer.
3. I wish for more understanding in the world.
4. I wish for my headaches to cease.
5. I wish for Starr to live her best life, always.
6. I wish to grow my current friendships into something really special.
7. I wish happiness, health and prosperity to all.
8. A new computer is also quite high on my wish list!

8 things I am passionate about
1. Equality.
2. My daughter.
3. Her siblings.
4. My nephew.
5. Love.
6. Quiet time.
7. Noisy fun.
8. Laughter.

8 things I have learned from the past
1. Friendship and trust are so very important.
2. Forgiveness is healthy.
3. Liars tend to continue lying.
4. True beauty is on the inside.
5. I am worthy.
6. To cherish the present.
7. That things are always changing…and that’s good.
8. I have a lot of learning left to do.

8 things I want/need

1. I want * **** *** ** ** ****!!!
2. I need to repair the leaking pipes under the guest bathroom.
3. I want a vehicle for Starr. (She thinks this is a need!)
4. I need to trust myself more often.
5. I want a Diet Coke.
6. I need a massage. Yeah, I said need!
7. I want some new clothes. (I know this to be a need…)
8. I need a hug.

©2010 The Glass Dragonfly. All Rights Reserved.

Ross Butter’s Dinosaur Ballet

Butter says:

I got in touch with my inner child. He made me do this.

Kelly says: The stretching dinosaurs reminded me of this picture from Starr and Skye’s 5k last year:

Sookie and friend making me laugh, as usual.

©2010 The Glass Dragonfly. All Rights Reserved.

Snuggled into the pillowcase! So flipping cozy.

Her eyes photograph oddly, I tried to fix them a little, it helped some, but they are still odd!! I blame the cell phone! I texted this picture to Starr as she was out partying Saturday night. She said it took all of her willpower not to show the picture around “look at my cat!” and “isn’t she the cutest?!?” She just didn’t want to be THAT girl!

Apparently I have no such willpower….or I am THAT girl!!

©2010 The Glass Dragonfly. All Rights Reserved.