Incomprehensible & Senseless Loss

[Jim Beaux]

Presently my home town has a population of around 17,000; and as I remember, it was less than 8000 when I was attending school. Of course in a town like this, everyone just about knows everyone.

Victor Lovelady, one of the victims in Algeria, grew up a few blocks from me. Victor and his brother Mike were friends & classmates of my brother. Mike and Victor never caused any drama or trouble. They were decent kids who grew up to be decent men. I dont recall seeing Victor in over 30 years, but Mike & I run into each other occasionally. Mike retired 4-5 years ago having worked at the city for 30 years. He was the Fire Chief for most of that time.

Mike has some serious health issues & it speaks well for him that just before Thanksgiving, the community held a benefit for him & his wife. Though he is still facing exploratory surgery, he is now faced with having to pull himself together to bury his little brother.

I know it's difficult for anyone to ponder; but if I had to imagine anyone to be taken hostage and murdered by terrorists in a foreign land, Victor would have never even been considered. He & his brother were/are decent, unassuming prudent people and not risk taking adventurers. Like us, they are the typical middle class American citizens who only wish to travel through life peacefully.

Imagine for a moment that you are Mike, & imagine Victor your brother, your son, your daughter, or your father, etc. Imagine waking one morning & being directly impacted by terrorism.

Though Victor & I werent close, it's going to take some time for me to get my head around the circumstances of his death. Hopefully Victor is as close as it gets for me.

http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/ ... 213946.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Redneck_Buddha]

I am truly sorry that you have lost your friend in such a tragic manner. We are supposed to go trekking and climbing in Morocco this coming September and the attack just right next door gives me great pause.