Death in the family....Todd

Sad news this evening. I found out that a cousin of mine, died from a heart attack last night.

He was 43.

Way too young.

Todd and I were pretty close growing up, he had the best curly black hair  and a heart of gold. Every summer, my dad would take us to an amusement park, I always chose Todd to come with me. We had such a great time.


Todd was always, shall I say ....mischievous.

He offered me my first beer my first cigarette  and my first joint. It truly seems like yesterday that we would do his paper route together on Lovers Lane in East Lyme, we would sneak  cigarettes behind the bushes.
 We laughed a lot, we were pulled over in our little town by the local police a couple of times. Always with a case of beer "hidden" under the seat... that case of beer was dumped out on the side of the road while the officer kindly threatened to tell my dad, We never did get a ticket.

I don't think my dad found out


 Todd and I spent a great deal of time exploring the woods when we were younger.  He had a great man made pond way way in the woods of his property, we would collect tadpoles and watch them hatch. On one of our outings while at my grandmothers, we found an old burial ground deep in the woods in East Lyme. Proud to say I grew up hanging out in the woods and that Todd was my fearless partner.

We had some great adventures.

From what I have gathered through the years, he never really lost that mischievous  quality.

 

We had lost touch but I would run into him now and again, and always that heart of gold would be right there on the surface. Always a huge smile.  

A tough reminder that tomorrow is never guaranteed

He truly was a great kid to grow up with and I will always look back at those years with a great love in my heart,

Todd- you will be missed