I was talking to my mom yesterday and she read me an "article" (read "police report") about a boy, well, he;s grown up now, who was Lew's best friend growing up. Just like his sister was my best friend growing up and her sister was Amanda's best friend growing up and their mom was mom's best friend. He is now facing 6 felony drug charges, and a small part of my heart died. He is only 22. He has ruined his life by selling cocaine to undercover officers on three seperate occasions. As mom was reading this literally a million thoughts ran through my head, memories, what-ifs, mistakes, wishes, regrets, excuses... And then of course I thought of Lew. They were so close. And how differently they turned out to be. It is a testament to unbringing and environment. We had a loving nurturing supportive family. They had an abusive drunk father, a lost hurt mother. Trying to find love where they could, and following a horrible example set before them that was only apologized for or aknowledged on a death bed created by drug and alcohol abuse. And here he is following in those footsteps.

We all grew apart through the years, following the path set before us, the direction dictated by the choices we made. But no matter how far apart our paths have gone from one another, it doesnt erase that love you have in that special place in your heart for friends who were, at the formative years of your life, more like family than friends. So it is that place, and that love that sears with pain upon hearing that one of them has followed a path, followed his choices into a dark, miserable and tragic life. It is that place that make the tears burn your eyes when you think maybe, you could have a made a difference all those years ago... Knowing that you cant change what happened, and knowing that you cant save that person from what they have become.

How do you save someone who doesnt know they need saving?