GOODBYE SEAN LATHE... WE'LL MISS YOUR SMILE FOREVER!

My 6th sense told me NOT to open my email, because it said my childhood friend was gone from this Earth, his smile never to grace my doorstep again...  Though I thought I must be paranoid, simply scared because Sean was a Medi-vac, I couldn't open the email at first.  Then, I ripped it open, like a band-aid, and felt my chest freeze as I breathed in the icy truth:  SEAN IS GONE.

Sean died on Sunday.  I woke up on Sunday inexplicably ill, and couldn't get out of bed for the entire day.  My head pounded & I slept most of it, having no energy or desire to move, sweating in and out of nightmares.  Had some part of me known on Sunday that our world was in morning?  I'll never know...

I'm still in shock.  It's not real.  Acceptance will take years.  I'm sure I will still hope for a surprise visit, when he visits his family in Maine, as his visits were always one of my favorite Christmas gifts.  But, as reality awakens me, and the dawning drains the blood from my face, I'll cry silent tears for the realization that SEAN IS GONE.  I'm sure I will have to repeat that to myself on far too many occassions over the coming years.

How do I simply sum up my memories of someone so complicated & special.  Sean was SO many things to SO many people.  He was BRAVE, thinking Sky Diving from airplanes was "fun," as he parachuted dangerously to the ground.  Sean was a HERO, an Army Medi-vac Pilot in our US military who saved countless lives.  He was FUNNY... a real clown.  To the delite and lifetime memories of 1000's of children, Sean's charitable nature lead him to donate his time as a Shriner Clown.  He was ROMANTIC, and showered the lucky ladies in his life with flowers & handmade gifts.  He was a PASSIONATE FATHER, who built his world around his daughter, Valerie.  He was my HIGH SCHOOL FRIEND, who told me I was pretty when I needed to hear it most.  He was my PEN PAL, while he was in the military, eventually inviting me to PIN HIS WINGS.  I was SO HONORED to be asked & SO PROUD of my true friend.

Sean accomplished so much in such a short life.  What can I say that sums up Sean?  MY FRIEND... MY MEMORIES... MY LOSS... MY LOVE... MY EMPTINESS.  I truly wish I could be there, to hug & be hugged, to share stories, to not be alone right now.  But, I took a bad fall on stage, injuring many discs in my neck and back.  I've been recovering with physical therapy since 10/06, and am awaiting spinal surgery.  Please know the obvious:  Sean was an exceptional man, who will NEVER be forgotten.  I will carry his memory in my heart forever.

Thank you, Valerie & Dave Thib for contacting me.
It would have been very painful to find out accidentally.
I truly appreciate your courtesy in this stressful time.

This weekend, as I celebrate my independence, I also mourn the loss of my good friend, Sean, who helped protect & defend it.

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Cookie Cutter Girl (aKa Lynn 'JULIAN')
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