Dallas Strong

A dear friend of mine has passed away. Dallas was one of my first friends when my family moved to the little coastal town of Florence, Oregon. I believe I was 13 at the time. A friend through thick and thin Dallas was always there when I needed someone to talk to or a place to crash when the home life on my side wasn't going well.

Almost 20 years later a part of my life has been removed by God. I have shed my tears - and there are surely more to come when I go out there this month - but I also have had time to reflect on what a blessing Dallas was. He could have been a mean person, with his family situation kind of sucking as well, but he wasn't. He loved his friends and was not ashamed to say so.

From the basketball court, to the football & softball fields, to arguing throughout the 90's about whose NFL team was better (of course he was a Cowboys fan) to phone calls from one side of the country to the other he was always smiling.

It's funny - my Mom told me to stay away from this kid "he's nothing but trouble" she said. This was harped on for a couple of years until she saw the true Dallas. The one that wasn't getting into drugs or alcohol - sure we would do stupid stuff and get ourselves in a little trouble but it was never serious. Then the one thing that she thought would never have happened, he graduated. It wasn't a spoken thing but we definitely fed off of each other through school and helped each other out. Our very last day of school - we walked home together. I was crying because I thought that I'd never see these people again as I was off to the Navy and he said "I'll always be here for ya". That he was.

If you come across this - please say a prayer for Dallas' family. It has been a long couple of months since his accident until his passing. They are stretched thin emotionally.

brother - I love you and I'll miss you.