Today Luke died. I didn't know him, I never met him, but my heart is breaking for the loss of his beautiful young life and for his parents. His parents. His parents. Our Dakota moved from Rancho Bernardo High to Poway High with Luke; they were casual friends but friends And today, Luke died. The day before today, he turned 17.
Dakota is 17. All of you parents know that without wanting it to be so, without meaning to, when a child dies who is the same age as one of your children, you feel it differently, a slight shift in the plunge of empathy and you are caught a little deeper off guard, a little closer to the vortex, the unimaginable vortex of losing a child.
17 year old boys are light, but light's movement- they are light moving through the world, they are at once energy's greatest release and the longest sleep of weekend days. 17 year old boys are arrogant, prideful and still the tenderhearted little boys of seven years ago. Seven years ago they were ten. 17 year old boys are brightness of mind and quickness of tongue at the same time they are stumble mouthed, they are beautiful youth, Adonis, they are working tendons and lean armpits filled with hair that still feels new, they are sexual charges and random bursts of rage, they are catapults for joy and creative forces. 17 year old boys are long striding runs through back alleys and jumps on skateboards through parking lots, 17 year old boys are climbing fences and driving cars. 17 year old boys are brilliant smiles and sweaty shirts and stink pit rooms and guzzling water and slamming heads to music and shouts, shouts, and 17 year old boys are the promise of tomorrow, they are just begun.
How can what just begun be ended?
I know it is not a new question. But it boggles my mind the same. How can a light so bright as the one from a young man's smile be extinguished forever because of one stupid night? However long I live, I don't expect to ever get used to the random nature of life and death. It is heartbreaking.
My son is sad tonight. I am sad tonight. Luke Lipscomb, I'm so sorry you lost your life sweet boy.
I am praying hard for you and your family now.
Dakota is 17. All of you parents know that without wanting it to be so, without meaning to, when a child dies who is the same age as one of your children, you feel it differently, a slight shift in the plunge of empathy and you are caught a little deeper off guard, a little closer to the vortex, the unimaginable vortex of losing a child.
17 year old boys are light, but light's movement- they are light moving through the world, they are at once energy's greatest release and the longest sleep of weekend days. 17 year old boys are arrogant, prideful and still the tenderhearted little boys of seven years ago. Seven years ago they were ten. 17 year old boys are brightness of mind and quickness of tongue at the same time they are stumble mouthed, they are beautiful youth, Adonis, they are working tendons and lean armpits filled with hair that still feels new, they are sexual charges and random bursts of rage, they are catapults for joy and creative forces. 17 year old boys are long striding runs through back alleys and jumps on skateboards through parking lots, 17 year old boys are climbing fences and driving cars. 17 year old boys are brilliant smiles and sweaty shirts and stink pit rooms and guzzling water and slamming heads to music and shouts, shouts, and 17 year old boys are the promise of tomorrow, they are just begun.
How can what just begun be ended?
I know it is not a new question. But it boggles my mind the same. How can a light so bright as the one from a young man's smile be extinguished forever because of one stupid night? However long I live, I don't expect to ever get used to the random nature of life and death. It is heartbreaking.
My son is sad tonight. I am sad tonight. Luke Lipscomb, I'm so sorry you lost your life sweet boy.
I am praying hard for you and your family now.
EDITED
That's too scary. I think all the time how one step wrong could end it all, but you never think it would actually happen, especially to someone so young.
Oh dear Maggie this is such a tragedy....a huge loss for a family....your words have so wonderfully described a very young man's life...a beautiful tribute to the wonder of life....this kind of loss is one no one ever gets used to....so many questions unanswered....thank you for sharing this....a great reminder of how fragile life is.
I knew I should not have worn mascara today. :-(
What a beautiful description of 17 year old boys. I am saddened. Saddened for Luke, his family and all who love him, and for the other young men and their families involved in this tragedy.
Young people are at such high risk for all sort of problems. There is that spike at the entry of adulthood, for all sorts of life threatening issue, and we pray our children make it through that period alive and sane. Young men in this country are particularly endangered and at high risk. Look in the jails, the half way houses, the streets, the hospitals and obituaries, and you'll see what I mean. Frightening, no, terrifying for us moms of young men.
My prayers and thoughts are with all who knew Luke.
Your words have moved me to tears. I am sorry -- there are no other words than yours --
No words. None at all. Just sorrow.
How very, very sad. This sort of news frightens me to the core, since I have only one child (a boy, almost seven). It just breaks my heart that our children can be stolen right from under our noses so senselessly.
I am so sorry for his loss, for your loss, dakota's loss, all of us. my daughter is 17. i know just what you mean about feeling it a little closer to the vortex. we know how good kids do momentarily witless things, and everything is forever changed. i am so sorry it happened to luke. thank you for bearing witness.
This is so unbearably sad...one senseless act that changes so many lives...my heart breaks for Luke and his family and the other boy and his family. Sending peace and love to Dakota, and you, and all others who are grieving.
So heartbreaking. Poor Luke and his poor family and friends. I hope there is some peace to be found. xxx
God, I'm so so sorry. Much love to you and your beautiful family, Maggie. And Luke's.
What a needless tragedy. My heart goes out to Luke's family.
It just makes no sense, does it? I'm so sorry. We went through a similar senseless loss when my oldest was 15. It still doesn't make sense....6 years later.
I remember with my head on a pillow wondering how anyone anywhere could sleep knowing the girl we knew was no longer a part of this world. It was mind boggling. The only thing that helped me sleep was time and a whole lot of faith.
I am so very sorry for everyone who knew Luke. I'm sorry for the one who pulled the trigger. I'm sorry for those that witnessed it and didn't/couldn't stop it. They all need mountains of grace right now.
I'm praying for you and your family....this just seems like a crazy year for you all!
We lost an 18 year old in our community last week. Highly illegal speeds, street racing and alcohol.
My heart goes out to your son and to the family of this young man who now have to make sense out of the nonsensical.
thank you for that beautiful, moving tribute and for acknowledging that as parents to children who went to school with Luke we are also grieving...
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