(no subject)
It was 2 years ago today that Hurricane Katrina hit LA, MS, AL, and part of the FL panhandle. It will be 2 years ago on September 3rd that I lost my "big brother" Alex.
Alex was murdered by his roommate 5 days after Katrina hit. He was involved in drugs, there is no denying that, but that wasn't worth his life. He wanted out, he called, begging his dad for money to get out of there, but yet, he didn't make it. He was killed over an owed $50 and drugs that he had on him. His roommate has been implicated in the murder, there were witnesses, but yet, we don't even know where the roommate is. He was in jail for several months after Katrina, on weapons, barbiturates, and other charges, but was released mysteriously in March 06. We know not where he is, nor if we will ever be able to find him again. The NO county attorneys have refused to investigate the crime, refused to do anything about his murder. It was covered up by a corrupt coroners office, he's had 3 or 4 different causes of death, forged paperwork, and there are pictures that prove his injuries and by proxy, his cause of death.
Somehow, this doesn't seem fair. I know that life isn't fair, but still...there is a person walking the street who is a murderer, the authorities know he's a murderer, yet they have done nothing. Alex is dead, buried in Maine, next to his deceased mother, but missing out on life today. He has a nephew (who looks like Alex did as a baby) that he never got to meet, a niece who is getting bigger every day and has started preschool. I'm getting ready to get married, and he never got to meet Nathan.
I guess my point to this blog is simply this: Johnny, we know you killed Alex. But what you don't know is how precious a person he was to those who knew and loved him dearly. You took the life of someone who may not have mattered to you, but he mattered to us. Alex was such a wonderful person, such a precious soul, and you took him from us all. You have to live with that fact for the rest of your life, although I'm not sure that you care. But eventually it will catch up with you, either through the law or from God. I don't wish evil on you, since that would go against everything I believe in, but I do believe that Karma will get you in the end.
Michelle, John, BJ, Laird, Tim, Vanessa, and all the others that knew and loved Alex. Since the day we found out about Alex's death, for myself, my mom, Michelle, and John, Feb. 5, 2006, and for the rest of you, the times after that, we are forever saddened. However, there is good to come out of this. Let's remember Alex for who he was, for his gentle and gracious spirit, and for the goodness that exuded from him. We'll see him in Heaven one day, and I'm sure he's anxiously waiting to see us all. I love all of you, in that we all share something we never wanted to share, grief, but also we shared a love of the same person, Alex.
Alex, you were always my big brother. You tried to help me ride a skateboard (I never succeeded), tried to teach me to play Risk (again, that didn't happen), and you entertained me when our mothers got to talking and wouldn't stop. You never acted as if I were a bother to you and I know now that I had to have been. Thanks for being my big brother and trying to get me to be the best person I could be. I wish you were here so that you could be at my wedding, tease Nathan about being good to me (and he is, I promise), to see Mary Alexis and Ryan grow up, and to just hang out and go eat at Tumbleweed. I love you and miss you more than I can put into words. Thanks for being you.