Almost everyone has dealt with a death in their life.  For me, I have lost a grandfather, a cousin, and a friend.  My grandfather wasn’t a shock.  It was a long time coming.  Amy, my cousin, while it was a shock, we weren’t close.  I hadn’t seen her in years.  I cried, but I wasn’t devestated. 

Being so wrapped up in my own life, with Darling Fiancee (Df), and my big girl and baby girl, I didn’t seem to have time for friends the way I used to.  My time was split between them and my work.  I didn’t realize how precious time really was.  And then, it was too late.

Justin died on Saturday, January 19, 2008.  Unfortunantly, we were all so busy with our own lifes, we all missed the fact that he was missing.  On Thursday, January 24, 2008, he was found dead in his apartment.  Officially, he died from complications stemming from Diabetes, or so I am told.  I still am trying to wrap my head around this.  He was only 25.

I was 17 when I met Justin.  I had switched to Northwest during the last few months of my senior year.  He was in my Earth science class along with my cousin Charly.  Justin was a friend of Charlys’ and right away was so nice to me.  Started showing me a magic card trick.  Yeah, the first thing that popped in my head was dork, but I tried not to make rash conclusions before really getting to know him.

He developed a crush on me, but at the time, I only had eyes for Adam, so I kind of pretended I didn’t notice.  It didn’t matter to him, he still wanted to be a friend, whether I liked him “that way” or not.  We had a snow day once and a bunch of mine a Char’s friends came over, him being one of them.  He held my hand for just a moment, and when I think back to that day, I can still feel his hand.  Yeah, I was a fool, Adam soooo wasn’t worth my time!

Justin continued WOWING me with his magic tricks in class, generally to keep me from falling asleep.  B/c Earth Science is so riveting and all.  I started begging him to show me a trick, but he refused b/c magicians don’t share their secrets. I wound up being one of the few people he ever showed his “secret” card tricks to.

Justin was a light in a dark world.  He was a genuinely nice person with no hidden agenda.  He just wanted to make sure people were happy.  How many people can you say you know like this?  This light is gone.  Without him, the world will be a more cynical place.  Justin Gross, I love you, and you will be missed.