Zero2Cool
5 years ago
It was March 25th, 2013 when Emilie called, I didn't answer. She doesn't call and she knows I don't much care for talking on the phone. I figured the first call was by accident. When the second call came through, I went and grabbed my shoes figuring her boyfriend did something that was gonna get his ass beat. This time she left a voicemail. I stood as I returned her call and she told me to meet her at St. Mary's, Nick had passed away.

I've known Nick since we were 11-12 years old and Emilie was just a newborn. Nick, Jim and I were the three stooges, three amigos, whatever you wanted to call us. Nick and Jim weren't as close as Jim and me and Nick an me were but we all lived just few homes away. We spent a lot of time together, nearly inseparable. If I wasn't with Nick, I was with Jim. If I wasn't with Jim, I was with Nick. It was like that for nearly a decade until we had to get jobs, I became a dad and we just got busy ... living.

March 22nd I thought, what the hell, I'm gonna get a tattoo, but under one condition ... Nick had to be the drawer of the artwork. He always drew random things and was pretty good at it. So, I sent Nick a text Friday asking how he was doing. Emilie called the following Monday. When she said --- actually I don't even remember what she said, I just remember my knees buckling and barely catching myself on the kitchen island ... weeping.

I kept telling myself this wasn't real, it can't be real, this is Nick's way of getting back at me for not contacting him sooner and he and Emilie are gonna be standing outside the hospital.

I pulled into the parking lot and parked my car and as I couldn't find Nick or Emilie outside, I took a deep breath, and walked into the hospital. Emilie found me, hugged me and said "this way". We walked into a waiting area/room with his grandparents, family and mom. His mom grabbed me hugged me hard crying. I didn't know what to do or say. I was ignorantly still hoping this was a prank, this can't be true. This can't be happening.

Emilie and I went to the room where Nick laid motionless ... lifeless ... his dad starring with a look of anger and disbelief as he fought back tears.

--- Scarlett had been born just six weeks earlier in that same hospital. It was the first time I got to witness my child being born and being the one to name her. ---

Nick dying of a heart attack at age 31 was and honestly to do this day is hard to comprehend. That's not supposed to happen. It did make me think twice about my own mortality. Something I hadn't thought of since I was probably about 8 years old.

(memory)
Really late at night, mom came running into my room asking in a panic, "what's wrong, what's wrong, why are you crying, where does it hurt" - I looked over at her - "mom, who gets my stuff when I die? I want Damien to have my bike" --- mom (like any mother) was startled that her eight year old boy was worried about death, HIS death.
(/memory)

If it can happen to him, it can happen to me. It was one of several motivating factors for me to go on bicycle rides, working out at 5 AM and eating healthier. I wasn't going to leave my little sister, little brothers and sure as hell wasn't going to let my kids grow up without a father. Not if I could help it anyway.

I lost the only grandpa I knew few months after Nick passed away and later that year my last grandma passed away. Death was becoming something too familiar for me and I felt numb from the pain.

Nick's birthday was July 1st, which is the same as my grandma who passed away half year after him.

I've made some strides in accepting he's gone. Or so thought, because that's when the dreams started. The first one was a talk with his mom, Paula, who said something that made me think Nick was alive. Dream after dream, I searched up and down looking for him. Then it happened, I found him. He was going by his middle name, Wayne. He was married and had children - both a HUGE surprise if you knew Nick. I saw a name badge on his wife's shoulder, it said Sarah Jeper and the place of business. I focused my eyes so hard on it because I wanted to remember every detail just in case I had to find him again.

We talked several times. The more we talked the more I realized he was there, but something was off with him. I couldn't place my finger on it other than he was alive, but not living kinda thing. He nervously told me no one could know he was still alive and if someone found out that he and his family would be dead. I told him if he "was in trouble, why the hell didn't you come to me?" -- "Kev, I told you, I have to fight my own battles" ... I mentioned his sister, Emilie, who misses him and he started to tear up "stop, please stop". Sarah came in and took over the conversation at that point.

When I first met Sarah it was obvious who "wore the pants" in the family. After each time I met with them, I started to feel something more was going on. She always seemed end our discussions and if I started talking about a childhood memory she was quick to bring up one of their children.

It felt like Nick was suffering from selective amnesia and Sarah was controlling what he was allowed to remember. Like Sarah was his handler. It started to feel like I was in a movie.

I never found out why Nick used his coma inducing heart attack as a way to start his life over. What happened? Why did it happen? Who was he hiding from? Why didn't he come to me? Who all knows?

When I wake up, it doesn't feel like a dream. It feels like I have a "mission" to complete. That I have to find what he's hiding from and remove the "threat". It's really weird to have a series of dreams seem more real to you than the life you're living. I hope if there's another dream, I can remember that damn business name on the name badge.

UserPostedImage
wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member
5 years ago
You're right it sure seems like a movie. I have no doubt it stresses you out. Of course you know if it was a matter of life and death that no one in his family know he's a live he wouldn't be living in Brown County or WI for that matter.

I hope you find peace in all of this.
UserPostedImage
Cheesey
5 years ago
First Kevin, I’m really sorry about the passing of your friend. I have suffered so many deaths in my life, that I seriously can’t count them all.
I also have had dreams of some of them still alive somewhere. Of course none of the dreams were reality.
I believe your dreams are your subconscious mind still trying to figure out how to deal with his death. Your heart and mind don’t want to accept it.
You know while you are awake, that he is gone. When you are asleep, you can make up scenarios that can try to make sense of something that your mind doesn’t want to accept.
I know it hurts, and will for a long time.
It’s never easy to let go.
Hold onto the memories, and the love you had for him.
This is another reminder to all of us to appreciate our loved ones, and to let them know how we feel. You never know when it might be your last chance to do so.
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Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (4h) : Chase Young to sign $13M contract with Saints
Zero2Cool (4h) : Yosh to Panthers what noooo. Wait he didn't do crap
wpr (18-Mar) : I say that he is technically HER BIL as he married her sister. I checked it out, he's considered my BIL as well. Sad.
Mucky Tundra (18-Mar) : wpr, I assume its your BIL via marriage to your wife? If so, I can figure out where the smarts in the family went ;)
wpr (18-Mar) : Mucky my B-I-L is Bare Stupid. I could write a book.
Mucky Tundra (18-Mar) : As a teenager in Rockford IL I would get heckled by adults in public for wearing GB gear
Mucky Tundra (18-Mar) : if you think the online ones are bad, try *living amongst* them
Mucky Tundra (18-Mar) : Never doubt wprs loyalty. Poor guy is surrounded by Bears fans in Northern IL
wpr (17-Mar) : pass Martha. Thanks for the invite though.
Martha Careful (17-Mar) : blog * as the same ugly Illinois colors were adopted by the Baer
Martha Careful (17-Mar) : WPR, perhaps you should be joining the Bears fans blog has the same ugly Illinois colors were adopted by the Bears
Mucky Tundra (17-Mar) : Ah a fellow U of Illinois hater. I can respect that though I imagine it's for different reasons
Zero2Cool (17-Mar) : BTW. I didn't catch the game. I just hate Illinois.
Mucky Tundra (17-Mar) : They're your Big Ten Chumps and you will like it!
Zero2Cool (17-Mar) : No, not for the record. Referee's handled that BS. Orange team was trash ass
Mucky Tundra (17-Mar) : *Your* Big Ten Chumps for the record
Zero2Cool (17-Mar) : No, not Big Ten Champs. IL is big ten CHUMPS
wpr (17-Mar) : Big Ten Champs
wpr (17-Mar) : !!!
wpr (17-Mar) : INI
wpr (17-Mar) : ILL
Martha Careful (17-Mar) : Wisconsin with an outstanding on in the men’s Big Ten basketball tournament. Let’s hope it continues in the NCAAs
Zero2Cool (17-Mar) : Almost like taking QB in 2020 even if you don't need one is good move.
Mucky Tundra (16-Mar) : 2021 QB Draft class looking like a real clunker
Mucky Tundra (16-Mar) : A conditional 6th rounder? I remember Bears fans arguing they'd get a day 2 pick at worst lol
dfosterf (16-Mar) : So I got the no extension part right and the have to wait on the CW physical wrong
Zero2Cool (16-Mar) : Bears are trading Justin Fields for a 2025 6th-round pick that goes to a 4th-round pick based on playtime, per sources.
Zero2Cool (16-Mar) : Former Packer Jarrett Bush opens Wisconsin’s first blow dry bar in Green Bay
dfosterf (16-Mar) : If the Bears are not doing a deal with Washington, they also cannot trade Fields until Williams physical with them. All hail Caleb Williams!
dfosterf (16-Mar) : The talent is undeniable, but the (advertised) haul is obscene.
dfosterf (16-Mar) : If the Bears are cutting a deal with the Commanders, in either scenario, cannot happen until williams passes a Commanders physical
dfosterf (16-Mar) : My guess is no to the Fields extension, but yes to the trade back with the Commanders.
dhazer (15-Mar) : I think the Bears do a Love extension and they will trade out of the 1st pick and take the haul
Martha Careful (15-Mar) : that might make sense
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : Justin Fields to Steelers?
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : Kenny Pickett. Eagles. Done.
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : They can claim best two WR tandem.
Mucky Tundra (15-Mar) : Aaron Donald retiring
dhazer (15-Mar) : Campbell signing with 49ers
dhazer (15-Mar) : I love how the Bear Fans are now claiming they have the best skill players in the NFC North lol
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : Vikings made a move to get a 2nd first round pick
Mucky Tundra (15-Mar) : That's a not a bad deal for the Bears
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : Bears have traded for WR Keenan Allen sending Chargers a fourth rounder.
Martha Careful (15-Mar) : *signs
Martha Careful (14-Mar) : MLB Devon White science with the Eagles
Mucky Tundra (14-Mar) : But that was before FA started
Mucky Tundra (14-Mar) : Dhaze, I thought Kurls would be their #1 target when I read that he was an Amos comp (jack of all trades guy)
dhazer (14-Mar) : I would like to see the Packers target 2 more FA still available Kamren Curl Safety and Chase Young edge
Martha Careful (14-Mar) : wow...didn't see that coming
Zero2Cool (14-Mar) : AJ Dillon re-signing with Packers.
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