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Kathryn Mayer •  Writing Out Loud

I write stuff down. thinker • humorist • cynical optimist

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Thirteen

Family Matters, No Place Like Home, Parenting / May 7, 2013 by Kate Mayer / 11 Comments

 Newtown mourners for another life gone too soon.So today my family waited in line for hours and hours to pay our respects to a young boy who died too soon.

Again.

We went went to the calling hours with hundreds and hundreds of Newtown friends, students, teachers, families, coaches and neighbors for a 13 year old boy from my kid’s 7th grade class who died “unexpectedly” at home. 13.

Just 13. Thirteen. 7th grade. Pollywogs and skateboards. Dyed hair and baseball. Comic books and cousins.

Just when we thought we had no tears left.

Found this TedTalks video by accident just this morning, and was introduced to poet Shane Koyczan.

Hoping you will watch it in honor of Ben, and perhaps share it with someone you know.


Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Andrea

    May 7, 2013 at 1:59 am

    I am so sorry Kathy. I wish more people who need to see this video would stumble upon it.

    Reply
    • Kathy (p/t writer, f/t mom)

      May 7, 2013 at 7:29 pm

      Found the writer/artists/poet on twitter (@Koyczan) and he has 25k followers, so apparently plenty of folks are stumbling upon him! Glad to share him with our circle in our time of need; his words will absolutely make a difference.

      Reply
  2. Coops

    May 7, 2013 at 1:26 pm

    Andrea, they will… people are posting.

    Reply
    • Kathy (p/t writer, f/t mom)

      May 7, 2013 at 7:31 pm

      I sure hope so. Just returned from the funeral, and my eyes are tired and heart broken. a sad day here.

      Reply
  3. Sandy Hook Mom

    May 7, 2013 at 7:02 pm

    Wow, such an eloquent man! Thanks for sharing that.
    So sad, hoping some good comes out of this tradgedy.

    Reply
    • Kathy (p/t writer, f/t mom)

      May 7, 2013 at 7:32 pm

      Not sure how much more we can take. Seeing all the kids around town today . . . well that is good. Very good. Knowing how much love and support they have from teachers and staff, that is powerful stuff. We’re lucky here in Newtown. Believe it or not, very lucky.

      Reply
    • Sandy Hook Mom

      May 9, 2013 at 1:39 pm

      I agree, we are very lucky….I know I am a very lucky Mama…my daughter made it out of SHS alive on 12/14 and my son will be Bar Mitzvah’ed in 9 days…amonst many other things I am so grateful for. I am glad that kids are learning from Ben’s tragic story and hope that it opens the doors of communication for some families so that we don’t have to go to any more funerals for children who take their own lives. I truly love your blog, you say what I feel often…..

      Reply
    • Kathy (p/t writer, f/t mom)

      May 9, 2013 at 3:18 pm

      mazel tov mama!

      Reply
  4. vanita

    May 8, 2013 at 12:07 pm

    big hug girlfriend. the heartbreak will end. 13…i’ve got no words. thanks for sharing the video.

    Reply
    • Kathy (p/t writer, f/t mom)

      May 9, 2013 at 3:19 pm

      hug to you too. sorry for the sadness, but lost my funny. hope you are well

      Reply
  5. Robin K

    May 26, 2013 at 12:08 pm

    Enuffering already. More love, more, easier, accessible, ways for kids to “get a new mirror”. Thanks so much for sharing. Very powerful, key. xo to You and Yours big xo.

    Reply

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