Words escape me this afternoon...

PA-PLAYA

It has been a very difficult day for me. My daughter, who is currently in Denver working for a summer internship program, called me about 3 hours ago, crying hysterically.

"I'm fine, I'm perfectly okay... I'm in a store and I can't talk right now, but need to call you in 10 minutes."

Wow. Okay. So you can imagine the thoughts that raced through my mind in the meantime, anxiously/nervously waiting for the callback.

Turns out that her best friend's father, who was a really cool, laid-back guy... just talked to him a few weeks ago right before my daughter left for Denver... not gonna say that we were super super close, but with his daughter spending so much time here over the summer breaks, and my daughter spending so much time with them over summer breaks... his daughter is like a daughter to me, and vice-versa...

48 years of age. Navy veteran, just recently retired from the local city fire department a year or so ago... while his wife/kids were down enjoying the weekend at their summer beach home in Delaware, he took his own life.

Words escape me this afternoon... so many questions, so much pain and grief left to deal with for the young family he leaves behind.

So I'm picking my daughter up from the Philly airport tonight around midnight, just so she can be there for her best friend this upcoming week.

Kinda makes a bad round of golf suddenly not all that bad.

FauxAmish

PA-PLAYA

She called the one Person who would understand her First significant loss. You responded as a Father should and wouldn't even think twice.

Hope your daughter and her best friend continue to understand the realities of Life.

And Scott, You know what your duty now is.

potbunker

PA-PLAYA

That is so incredibly sad.
My heart goes out to both your families, and especially those close to him searching for a reason and hopefully without blaming themselves in anyway.

Ack8236

Very sorry to hear of the loss of a fellow Veteran and Brother Firefighter. A city somewhat near me just lost a Fire Captain, and union president, to suicide a couple days ago. I know it always leaves many questions that are never answered, and I'm sure I can not find the answer either. But I can relate that this job, can just WEAR on you. We see many things that others never see or are even aware are happening. There are many gratifying things about this job that make it worthwhile, but sometimes the bad things surface and are very hard to get by. If there are not people in your life that are from the same background or have similar experience, there can be no one to talk to. There is support out there, both for Veterans and in the Fire Service. There is still a "macho" stigma about reaching out, but I urge anyone having issues to do so.

PA-PLAYA

Thanks Ack and Pat... it's been a very emotional evening. I just touched base with his oldest son, who is scheduled to leave out this summer for the Navy. Trying to do what little I can to help support him, his siblings and his mom during this horrendous time.

This guy spent a majority of his life serving his country and serving his community honorably and admirably. He was a very special guy. His family is my family... played soccer with his kids when they were little... spent numerous evenings having them for sleepovers with my kids.... still hard to process this evening, can't imagine what his wife and kids are going through this evening.

It's gonna be a tough week for them. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Thank you.

sdandrea1

damn.........................sad story. Hang in there - be there for her. Thoughts and prayers.

PA-PLAYA

sdandrea1

Thanks Steve. My heart breaks for these kids.

I take an awful lot for granted. 🙁

Bigborgel

PA-PLAYA We all take a lot for granted, and usually we get away with it. Suicide is defined as the total loss of hope, something must have gone on/built up in his life that made taking his own life more important that being there for his family. It's important that the family seek counseling in order to make sense of their loss.

PA-PLAYA

Just really, really sad this afternoon. There is no making sense of the disease called depression. I have dealt with it, actually been in the throes of the unthinkable years past... but was thankfully grounded because of my faith, and my love of family.

To think of what this family is going through is beyond my reasoning,