For Scott

A young man I once knew passed away this week. Scott Moen. We were acquaintances and, in fact, he hung out in a group of guys that I had little use for. Scott was the exception. When others in the group were bugging me he typically kept his mouth closed. It was just high school immaturity. We've all grown and changed.

My injury fifteen years ago changed many people besides me. Scott and crew wouldn't dare pick on the crippled guy, of course, but beyond that their behaviour became less juvenile, from my perspective.

Awhile after moving from neurology to rehab some of this group came to visit. Many people, lots of them my age with minimal part time income, gave me money. It was not huge amounts but I most definitely appreciated it. Scott felt terrible that he had no money to give so he gave me a pendant he had earned with his hockey team.

Again, the money was appreciated, but it comes and goes. The guys who came to visit, Scott's gift of this chain and the fact that they had the maturity to come visit a guy, once their target of ridicule, not difficult to be around in his vulnerable state, meant the most and will stick with me.

I'm not sure what took Scott, but I do know that he had health issues a few years after my injury and that his announcement stated that donations could be made to the Lupus, Diabetes or Heart & Stroke Foundation.

Just another person that left us too soon, but one I certainly will not forget.

Young Hawk

Earlier this morning Angie spotted this rather large bird resting on our railing. Not exactly the best photo, but when you're in a wheelchair a young hawk landing on your deck railing is nothing short of a gift.

Young Hawk by Jay Scott 

Shooting through a triple pane window, with a low quality borrowed lens, made for unsharp feathers and three "ghost" birds from the window panes. I had to go outside and truthfully, it rested on the railing quite awhile until I pushed its proximity comfort level and it decided to leave.