As many of you know, Eve's brother, Casey, was killed in a car accident last Wednesday night, May 11. Many of you gave us your thoughts and prayers, and these were a real comfort to us during this time of sorrow. We've popped up that thread many times since then when we needed a little encouragement or just needed to know someone was thinking of us. Thank you all so much. Now I want to share a little about Casey.
Eve and her mom were going through some of Casey's things and came across a set of maps he made on some Provident Life and Accident¯ stationary sometime during elementary school. The map included Fox Brook, Eagle Brook, Bobcat Rapids, Owl Falls, Eagle River, Rattlesnake Lake, Death Falls, Hunting Woods, Rattlesnake Woods, and Davy Crockett Stream, Fort, Rapids, and Mountain ("Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee"). There were hundreds of little trees (two vertical lines and an inverted 'V'¯), craggy mountains, and meandering water.
The best thing we found, though, was the charter document for The Great Outdoors Club. There was a list of members and a list of bosses (which included all the members). There was a list of "Ones Who Decide Club Rules" and a list of "Ones who Make Maps."¯ There were lists of doctors, detectives, cops, "spys,"¯ and "mathmatians."¯ The list of "Here's what you'll do" included look for arrow heads, polish rifles, look for civil war things, Nintendo, and Sega. The list of weapons ranged from clubs to machine guns to "magnum (gun)"¯ to bazooka.
The very best part, though, was the list of rules:
you got to be nice
be nice to girls
help people
don't say bad words
don't lie
don't do bad things
Casey was a man who kayaked, who ran his own trap line when he was 13, who climbed rocks - a natural athlete and a born leader. But he was also a boy who knew the most important rule of all: "you got to be nice."¯
You got to be nice, dammit. You just do.
Dagonee
[ January 28, 2006, 12:35 AM: Message edited by: Dagonee ]
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Thank you for sharing that, Dags.
Sounds like he was a very special -- and nice, in the genuine sense of the word that doesn't get used as often as it should -- guy. I know he will be missed.
(((((Eve&Rob&family)))))
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
(((hugs))) That's really sweet. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Thanks for sharing, Dags. That sounds so sweet. You have some great memories of him. Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
Couldn't we post that in the classrooms? Words to live by.
Posted by Beren One Hand (Member # 3403) on :
He sounds like a fine human being.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Oh, dear, that brought me to tears. I have been thinking of you both a lot lately.
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
and simultaneously.
becuase Casey sounds like a wonderful, and as Rivka says genuinely nice in the best sense of the word person.
for your loss.
I am glad we were/are able to help, even just a little bit.
Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :
Dag, I missed your sad news. I'm so very sorry. Casey sounds like a lovely person and his loss is a truly terrible thing.
Posted by Kiwi (Member # 7982) on :
Dagonee and Eve, I'm very sorry for your loss. It sounds like Casey was an awesome guy with his heart in the right place.
I guess "you got to be nice" is something everyone needs to remember a little more often.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
I had seen something about the trouble, but I missed the why of it. I am so sorry for your loss.
Sounds like he really loved life though.
Kwea
Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
I only just now became aware of your loss. I'm so sorry! Dagonee and Eve, that was beautiful. I'm glad you have these things to remember him by.
Posted by Portabello (Member # 7710) on :
Thank you for this thread. I loved those rules.
Posted by Book (Member # 5500) on :
Sound like the Ten Commandments layman style.
Might be truer, too. Simpler. You never know.
Posted by Dragon (Member # 3670) on :
((((((((Dagonee and Eve))))))))
I'm so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing his wisdom with us.
Posted by Zotto! (Member # 4689) on :
I'm glad Hatrack helped you guys a little. I'm so sorry for your loss. Thankyou for sharing some of Casey's life with us; his rules are awesome.
Posted by punwit (Member # 6388) on :
Remembering a lost loved one's strengths is what holds me together during the grieving process. Casey's outlook on life is an inspiration to us all. Wishing you and Eve and family the very best.
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
*hugs Dag and Eve*
*sends spiritual hugs to Casey*
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
To note: the charter documents also contained a prominent copyright notice:
"Do not copy without permission of one of the editors."
Even in second grade, he was two steps ahead of everybody.
Thank you for all of your kindness!
Eve (and Dagonee, the illustrious and benevolent ruler of the only laptop we brought with us.)
Posted by Olivetta (Member # 6456) on :
He sounds like a formidable and caring person. I'm sorry for your loss, but glad you can take comfort in those memories. I remember going through photos when my mother died, and her scrapbooks, just remembering. Posted by lem (Member # 6914) on :
DO I have permission to post it in my classroom? Those are lovely rules.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Dag and Eve, those are great rules.
I'm so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing your find with us - very cool.
*hug*
Posted by Rakeesh (Member # 2001) on :
Those are outstanding rules, Dagonee & Eve. Casey sounds like a very good man. From your description I am convinced that even though it magnifies the loss, your brother-in-law's life bettered the lives of others and had a truly positive impact on them as well, that will be remembered and cherished.
Putting 'You got to be nice' down on paper, I don't know, it rings of an optimistic earnestness that I think we lose track of sometimes. From your description, Casey sort of reminds me of a hero from a book or a movie, someone who doesn't have super-powers or a mythic enemy, but just a good guy who makes things better.
Anyway, I'm rambling. I'm sorry again for your loss, and I'm glad both of you have been able to take any little encouragement from the `Rack.
J4
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
I'm sorry for your loss. I'd be devastated if I lost my brother.
-Bok
Posted by whiskysunrise (Member # 6819) on :
If only everyone would/could live by those rules. Thank you.
Posted by bunbun (Member # 6814) on :
Lem,
I think it would be fine to post those rules. For the purposes of proper attribution, they are excerpted from the "Great Outdoors Club Rules."
Eve
Posted by mothertree (Member # 4999) on :
I am among those who didn't see the first thread. My condolences.
Posted by Glenn Arnold (Member # 3192) on :
I too am late in hearing this news.
He sounds like a great guy. This is the ultimate ammunition for mothers who insist on keeping every document their children produce. But it's not an argument anyone should have to win.
My condolences.
Glenn
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
Thank you all for the kind words.
I never actually met Casey, but I do have great memories of him. His family and friends loved him very much, and they shared that love with others even as they grieved.
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
What a great set of rules to live by. I'm sorry you have lost such a special person, but am glad you (and us, through you) had a chance to know him, if only a little bit.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Was Casey younger than Eve, Rob? How old was he this year?
Again, my sincere condolences.
FG
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
He was 24 or 23. I heard both ages from non-family and forgot to ask Eve which it was. That makes him about seven years younger than Eve.
![[Group Hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
and ![[Frown]](frown.gif)
simultaneously.