Two stories by people who never met Tony, but care....
To Tony......Love Kristen by Harold Simpson It's never easy to endure the loss of a loved one. At times, it seems like a bad dream and that the reality of it will all somehow go away. The tears, the heart ache and the overwhelming feeling of loss are perhaps even harder when the loved one is a child.
Last night, Cathy and I went with Mary and Mike Padget to Diana Taylor's (Yellowstone Wolf) great nephew's visitation at Nashville, Indiana. Little seven year old Anthony Allen Dortch (Tony) left behind a loving family and many friends that will miss him dearly. Tony was a special boy and thought of very highly by everyone, he loved playing with match box cars and looked up to the Nascar drivers like Jeff Gordon. Though his life was short, his spirit was great and he will be forever missed by everyone who knew him and loved him.
There is something more I'd like to tell you about Tony. Something that touched my heart and a story that needs to be told, a story that might be the most important story of all, a story of love.
Tony had a very special girlfriend......Kristen. She sat behind him in school and they were very close friends. Last night, Kristen walked up with tears in her eyes to pay her last respects to her beloved Tony. She brought with her a card that she had made herself and placed it along side Tony, next to his shoulder.
On the front of Kristen's card were two tulips that she had hand drawn with crayons. Both of them red and both of them in full bloom, with green leaves and stems in a setting of grass. At the bottom she pasted a grade school picture of herself with a smile that would melt any little boys heart. Inside the card, on the left hand side, she drew a picture of a single green flower that was round at the top but seemingly not yet in bloom. On the right and in a way only someone new to the world of penmanship could print were these words:
TO TONY
I KNOW YOU ARE WITH JESUS NOW,
BUT I'M GOING TO MISS YOU.
LOVE KRISTENOn the back of the card, Kristen placed two small shiny gold stars.
When I saw Kristen's card, I couldn't help but see something more there. The two tulips in bloom....two innocent hearts growing closely together and blooming with love. Kristen's precious picture, something of hers for Tony to keep for eternity. A single flower, standing alone and not blooming, a love forever lost. Innocent words of knowing and yet written with a broken heart. Two bright stars together...one that now will be in the sky...the other looking up with a tear in her eye. No matter where you are in life's journey, take the time to tell those closest to you that you love them. Life is a very fragile thing, each day is a precious gift.
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Tony - by Mary Padget When we walked in, you could feel the love in the room. Even if you didn't know Tony, you came away with the feeling that you did. Many mementos of his were there..the little school bus with his bus number on it...Jeff Gordon memorabilia, a baseball glove and baseball, a couple of beanie babies..and the quarter that he received from Aunt Diana..all of the nieces and nephews got one.
I too was very touched by the card Tony's friend Kristen gave him. My heart wanted to break. What a young age to learn such a lesson. But....what broke my heart most of all, was Tony's mom.
As a mother, I can only try to imagine what it must be like to lose a child...and I thought of Tony's last words. "I love you Mommy".
The emotions were indescribable. Everyone please say a prayer for her. I can only ask why..why these things happen..they don't seem right..but I know that's not for me to know.. Please say a prayer for our sis, Diana..she was very close to Tony...and give your kids an extra hug today..and tell them how much you love them. Life is so short.
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