In Honor Of My Friend & Daughter, Shae Reed.

One year ago today I lost a friend and daughter.  We weren't related, but it doesn't matter.  She came to me in a time in my life when I needed someone to be with and someone to love.  I couldn't tell you much about her, I can just tell you that we liked being around each other, even when we didn't talk.  I can still hear her say "hi pops".  Every time she said that she said it is was like she was genuinely happy and excited to talk to me.  More after the jump.

Shae Reed was my friend.  She loved Avenged Sevenfold.  She loved her visit to St. Louis.  She had a banging little red truck that was always in some state of body repair. She slang drinks like an octopus for a while at the Copper Caboose.  She was almost always in jeans in a tank top (showing off her tattooed angel wings) , occasionally switching for a t-shirt.  In latter days she adopted a Captain Spaulding belt buckle.  As luck would have it, I also had one until I passed it along.  She had started training a bit as a tattoo artist.

Shae took a late night motorcycle ride (and yes she had a helmet).  Apparently the driver took one corner too sharp and we lost them both. I don't blame anybody, Shae was never any place she didn't want to be.  Just like that though, we lost a very bright light.  You might think, 'bartender/tattoo artist" and that's it, but Shae had a way of bringing people together that was crazy uncommon.  Remember, 'work' is what you do, it's not 'who' you are.

I'm not like most of you.  I don't believe I'm ever going to be reunited with my loved ones. I don't believe they are looking down at me.  I believe they are lost to us, except in our memories.Writing this article freshens those memories for me and hopefully for some of Shae's friends.  For the rest of you, I hope you realize that life is cruelly short for some.  Always hug your friends because you never know if it'll be for the last time. Most of all, be careful out there, there are people who love you and who are counting on you to be around.

I wish I could honor this young lady more, but this is still too fresh for me.  I hope the rest of you who knew this special girl can stay strong in her honor.