Remembering a friend

(from Bobby)

My brother, Scott, called me Sunday morning to tell me that Michael Wall had been killed in a motorcycle accident. The news saddened me, even though I don't guess I had seen Michael in years.

The Walls -- Clyde, Kay, Bryan, Michael and Patricia -- lived across the street from us when my family moved to Keller, Texas, for Mom and Dad to serve as houseparents at Christ's Haven for Children in 1982. Scott and I immediately became close friends with Michael and his brother, Bryan. All of us were "houseparents' kids," and both our families attended the old Midtown church in Fort Worth, so we had a lot in common. We watched movies together, went on church youth outings together, stayed all night at each other's houses, et cetera. In a world (even at church) where the kids from the children's home weren't considered the coolest, we stuck together.

At some point, we all left home and went our separate ways and didn't see much of each other. I have seen Kay from time to time while going to church with Mom in Keller, but as I mentioned, haven't seen Bryan or Michael or Patricia forever.

But I've been thinking about the old days (the good old days, in a way) a lot since I heard about Michael's accident. My understanding is that he leaves behind a wife and a child. I am so sorry for their loss. And I am so sorry for Clyde and Kay losing a son. Thirty-eight just seems so young -- too young -- to die. My heartfelt prayers and sympathy go out to Michael's family and all those close to him.