Only the Good Die Young

October 22, 2006 is a day I'll never forget. I was at work, babysitting a drunk, when I got a call that one of my best friends, Patrick Kramer, had just been killed in a car accident. The moments immediately after that are hard to describe. I felt stark disbelief even though I knew it was true. Weakness gripped my legs and I struggled to stay standing. I felt worse than I ever had in my life. His is the first death of someone I was very close to that I have had to deal with. It's strange how death is something so normal, so part of the human experience, but that we are never ready, never prepared for it when it happens to a loved one.

Patrick was a cop in a small town a few hours from Billings. He was responding to an accident on the highway when he lost control of his vehicle and rolled it. He died on the spot almost instantly. He died as he lived, helping other people. Nothing gave him greater pleasure and even when it wasn't in his best interest, he did what he could for someone else. Patrick was a hero in the truest sense of the word.

His birthday was last Sunday. He would have been 30. I think about him all of the time, but he's been on my mind more often lately. I miss him terribly. My only consolation is that I know he is an a better place now. Patrick was dealing with a lot of personal issues and was in a lot of emotional turmoil for the last few years of his life. I'm glad he no longer has that burden, that pain.

Patrick, I wish you were here. I know it's a selfish thought. I know you're happier now, probably laughing at the antics of those of us still here. I still wish you were here.

Rest in peace, friend. I'll see you again someday.

Recent reading - The Prestige

I finished reading The Prestige earlier this week. I love the movie and have been wanting to read the book for awhile now. Obviously there was differences between the two, small small, others bigger. I found the book to be excellent, as well, but I'm not sure which I would say is better. I need more time to digest the book, perhaps even reading it again before I can make a more concrete judgement of it.

I almost wish I could have read the book before I saw the movie to see if I would have been able to pick up on the secret(s) before they were revealed. Ah, well. It was still an excellent read and I would say that the movie is an excellent adaptation keeping the spirit of the book if not the details.

Check them both out.