[Bear Chow]

Thank you for taking the time to read a snippet of my life as it crossed roads with another.

Brian Hitsman will no longer intersect another trail with mine, except for the stories to be told to future acquaintances and friends. There are no more roads for him to travel, there are no more bumps to jostle his bones. Today we make time for sadness.

Tomorrow we continue anew. I have had losses in my life, as all do. Ten plus years ago I had a revelation. It was a moment of thought I spat out of my mouth to prevent regression into more days of despair.

I was speaking with a friend about my sister Renee, She too has left while we must remain. My friend and I were talking of my sister and I as we had great adventures together and how we had affected each others lives. As I told my friend of her passing her immediate response was, "I'm sorry".

No! I said in a rather quick and harsh tone. I thought for a moment and then softened my tone. I told her, you need not be sad. I've just spent the last fifteen minutes sharing her life with you, I've spoken aloud of good times and bad. Those tales have entertained you, and allowed me to recall why I cherished her so deeply. I appreciate taking the moment to think about her again.

I was excited. I had released the disdain of death and grasped everything left in my memories. She was more vivid and alive than ever and now when the times are right I'll share some of those same stories with anyone interested in listening.

I don't want to detract from the seriousness of the moment. Today and tomorrow the family will continue to be resolve in silence. However; days after that when they least expect it that silence will end. Stories will be told and his name will be spoken. Brian Hitsman will continue to be. And the family will recognize he too is vivid and alive in their hearts and in their minds.