Gone Too Soon

Not sure I even want to write this but, it just seems the right thing to do. A classmate of mine died a few days ago from a heart attack. He was 35. It is so crazy.

Most of my classmates are sharing their stories on Facebook and that just isn't my thing, not sure why. I guess it just seems so impersonal. So, I am sharing my story here.

Tom was such a great guy. He has 3 step kids that are around, 20, 16, and 12 and a little man of his own, 6. His one step son is the same age as N and they have been in the same class a few times. I would see Tom and his wife at the school at different events.

Anyway, when we were in like 7th or 8th grade, I had the BIGGEST crush on him. He was SO cute. So, one Saturday morning our doorbell rang. I went to answer it and it was Tom. When I saw it was him I SLAMMED the door in his face. I couldn't believe it. I had just answered the door in my jammies, with no makeup and morning hair. Are you serious!

So, lucky for me one of my girlfriends had spent the night and I ran up to my room to get her. I told her that what had just happened and how mortified I was. She went down and answered the door for me. Poor Tom was standing there a little confused. It seems he had just stopped over to talk to my brother about buying his skateboard. And I am sure he could have cared less at what I was wearing.

A few weeks later he started to date this one girl and I remember just sobbing. My heart was broken. The funny thing, of course is, I never told him I liked him. He never knew.

One time, after we were all married and grown up I told him this story he laughed and asked why I had never said anything when we were little. He said we could have gone out. Are you serious. I missed my chance. All that heart ache could have been prevented. Oh well, that's teen age life for you.

Tom, you were a great guy and I will miss you dearly. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.