it's so weird.
two big media events, both involving explosions, on opposite ends of the country, in one week. I live between them, no where near either, so the last thing I expected to hear was that out of the several hundred wounded, 19 people (total between the two events) died, and one of them.. was someone I used to know, from here.
Kevin Sanders, listed among the first responders who died in Texas, is an old acquaintance from a community marching band I was in back in when I was 16. I hardly spoke with anyone from the band, really, but he was one of them. he was really nice, friendly, invited me to his birthday party that year. but I didn't go (the band season ended in august and his birthday was october. I just wasn't really hanging around with any of the few people i ever did talk to from that crowd anymore by then). I didn't join the band again the next year, either. so I didn't seem him for the next 3 years, when I was out swing dancing with a friend and he happened to be there. we danced, talked, caught up. that was the last time I ever saw him.
I didn't know he moved to Texas, didn't know he was a firefighter, didn't know he had a wife and 3-month-old son.
Kevin Sanders, listed among the first responders who died in Texas, is an old acquaintance from a community marching band I was in back in when I was 16. I hardly spoke with anyone from the band, really, but he was one of them. he was really nice, friendly, invited me to his birthday party that year. but I didn't go (the band season ended in august and his birthday was october. I just wasn't really hanging around with any of the few people i ever did talk to from that crowd anymore by then). I didn't join the band again the next year, either. so I didn't seem him for the next 3 years, when I was out swing dancing with a friend and he happened to be there. we danced, talked, caught up. that was the last time I ever saw him.
I didn't know he moved to Texas, didn't know he was a firefighter, didn't know he had a wife and 3-month-old son.