I was up at 4:30 this morning because my son Artie was. It's his first birthday tomorrow. This day last year, I was getting the phone call that Owen had passed away early that morning. We all got a phone call, a text, maybe saw a tweet or Facebook post. There's no good way to receive that kind of news, but we did.
Word spread fast and hit hard. It did so, because of the impact Owen had made on so many lives. It felt like a defining piece of ourselves was taken away. Whether you were a friend, family, or a fan.
We're the fortunate ones to have known Owen in our lifetime. I hope there's more than a few 'Owens' in my son's lifetime. A best friend, an artist, and an inspiration. Someone to laugh until you cry with, and cry until you laugh with.
I often find myself thinking 'Owen's missing this or that', but he really isn't. I'm missing him. He's enriched my life more than I can express. I'm thankful to have the stories, the music, and even the heartbreak. It reminds me of how lucky and thankful I am, and how important it is to carry on. We're charged with sharing our memories with those that haven't experienced them.
Here at the Smith household, we keep a picture of Owen up on our wall with our other family members. Ourselves, Artie's cousins, and his big sister (who passed away two and a half years ago). My son will grow up knowing that Owen was a part of our family. My son will want to know who Owen was. My son will want to know why his middle name is also Owen.
My son will meet many people who will be all too glad to tell him.
Word spread fast and hit hard. It did so, because of the impact Owen had made on so many lives. It felt like a defining piece of ourselves was taken away. Whether you were a friend, family, or a fan.
We're the fortunate ones to have known Owen in our lifetime. I hope there's more than a few 'Owens' in my son's lifetime. A best friend, an artist, and an inspiration. Someone to laugh until you cry with, and cry until you laugh with.
I often find myself thinking 'Owen's missing this or that', but he really isn't. I'm missing him. He's enriched my life more than I can express. I'm thankful to have the stories, the music, and even the heartbreak. It reminds me of how lucky and thankful I am, and how important it is to carry on. We're charged with sharing our memories with those that haven't experienced them.
Here at the Smith household, we keep a picture of Owen up on our wall with our other family members. Ourselves, Artie's cousins, and his big sister (who passed away two and a half years ago). My son will grow up knowing that Owen was a part of our family. My son will want to know who Owen was. My son will want to know why his middle name is also Owen.
My son will meet many people who will be all too glad to tell him.
