a sad goodbye
Somewhere around the beginning of June I was heard predicting that this summer, the summer of 2007, was to be one of the best in recent memory.
Predictably, the universe heard my declaration and decided to make me look like an idiot. The universe is a real jerk.
There have been lots of good bits throughout the summer months: cookouts, concerts, time with friends, and beautiful weather. Those good times, though, have also been punctuated and, at times, overshadowed by some devastating losses.
As the warm weather has started to give away to cooler temperatures, and Summer breathes it’s last fleeting breaths, my friends and I are presented with one more loss.
No Nick Name Fred, known in the real world as Fred Turner, his wife Jen, and their two kids Addison and Colston, are leaving St. Awesome’s and Lexington.
Fred and GG invited the Colonel and I out to dinner a week or so ago to break the news to us. The Colonel, prophet of doom that he is, suspected something was up. I’ve never been so sorry to see the Colonel be right.
The loss of Fred and Jen to St. Awesome’s is a terrible one. Fred brought sincerity, transparency and warmth to our church community. He was a voice of wisdom, humor and, when needed, healing. We’ll never see another one like him come through the doors.
And though Jen wasn’t a staff member, the loss of her to St. Awesome’s is equally devastating. Jen is funny, and warm and enjoyably sarcastic at all the right times. Like a lot of the staff wives at our church, there’s a realness to Jen that, unfortunately, you don’t always see in women married to ministers. Jen, like Fred, is transparent and everyone is the better for it.
Worse than the loss to our church, though, is the loss to me personally. Fred has, over the past few years, become one of my best friends. He’s one of the few people I know who can improve my mood simply by being in the room. There’s going to be a big hole in my life that he and his beautiful wife used to occupy.
Fred, Jen, I love you guys. I’m excited about the greener pastures that lie ahead of you, and want nothing but the best for you. You’re going to be missed, though, in ways that I can’t even begin to elaborate on properly.
