Category: Justin Kimes

On losing a sibling

8/13/2014

Justin, the son I never had, I just received the news that your brother Joshua, 24, and his friend Alex Ingerly, 21, died in a motorcycle accident, neither of them wearing a helmet. It pained me to hear of the loss that two families have to endure, especially you, your sisters, and your mother.

This sad situation brought back those terrible moments some years ago when my sister died of breast cancer. She had refused to see cancer specialists. Instead, she put her faith in homeopathy as if it were a religion. I was angry with her for what I perceived to be irresponsible behavior, but then, slowly, I realized, it was her life, her choice, and tough as it was, I had to respect it.

My mother, having lost her only daughter, struggled even more than I did. I will never forget her face when I arrived at her hospital bed in Germany where she had just undergone a hip operation: her eyes filled with terrible pain about her loss, but also endless yearning that I would stay alive, the kind of love that began a healing process which brought all of us together more than ever before.

May the pain that all of you are experiencing right now lead to an even stronger bond.

With love to all of you,
Henrik

Click HERE for a newspaper report of the accident.

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Giving, always giving

8/13/2014

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24 lines and one cut short, almost 25
For Susan and her children with love

When you were a girl, you gave, were forced to give,
Even though it destroyed those days of innocence.

When you were a young woman, you gave again,
But life, without asking you, snatched away your love.

And yet you gave, as a nurse for the terminally ill,
To those who struggled with the end of their earthly story.

And then you left the desert and entered an Oasis
Where we washed each other’s souls and feet.

And then you met Rob and gave your heart and soul, and,
Within one minute, you gave the world four beautiful plants

Photo: (L-R) Joshua, Justin, Susan, Amanda, and Sarah Kimes

Each of them, identical as they might have looked at first,
Developed into four dramatically different flowers:

Amanda and Sarah who found God wherever they went,
And Justin, the strong young tree on which you can lean.

Joshua grew into a wilder plant in the garden of life
Whose ivy climbed cranes and bikes without fear.

Yesterday, after midnight, unhelmed, he crashed his
Life and that of Alex his friend into an Indianwood trail

And entered a Forest to which no earthly gardener,
Not even one with the best of tools, has access.

And you, Susan, in spite of your disbelief, your tears,
Did not waver in trusting the voice from within, the voice

From above, absolutely sure that Joshua and Alex
Will live and grow in a better place, a safer place.

Forever

Henrik Eger

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