Adrian

Adrian
Originally uploaded by croatoan_found.

I garden because it allows me to do something positive, creative and life-affirming. Some things work and some don't. And it allows me time to simply think about things.

I've had too much to think about lately.

A week ago, a 22 year old friend of my son passed away. For no apparent reason. He was playing on an indoor soccer team with his childhood friends -- something that he has done for a dozen or more years. And as the game wound down, he collapsed. A few hours later, he was gone.

I met him about 11 years ago when he was part of a U-12 team that I coached to a championship. Adrian made the pass to set up the winning goal in the last minute of the tourney -- beating an undefeated team. He was then what he was throughout his life. Sweet, smart, good-looking and shy.

He developed into a remarkable athlete. After starring in high school, he also excelled in college -- a captain of the Williams College cross-country team. And smart -- he graduated this spring from Williams with a degree in mathematics.

But destiny had other plans for him. And amid the companionship of his friends, he passed away. His memorial service was held on Friday and friends from childhood joined friends from college in remembering this handsome kid with the shy smile.

I worked alot in the garden the past few days. I thought about many things. In my home work area, I had had a photo of that team that I coached many years ago. He still kneels in the front row, gazing out with his pals. Adrian was a good kid, a great son and friend to many -- and he deserved better.