Last Wednesday Margaret learned that a young friend - an ex-riding student, and the nephew of her trainer friend, John, had died tragically in Chicago the evening before. That afternoon, he had graduated from his Naval Surgical Technician course at Great Lakes. It was the last course he was to take there; in just a few days he was scheduled to return home to visit his mother, fiance, family, and friends, before going on to San Antonio for further training.
That night after graduation, he and some buddies were out in the city. They made a fateful decision to run across a set of railroad tracks, despite the fact that there was a train heading towards the station. It is assumed that they thought the train would be stopping at the station, but it did not. All the young men made it across except 23 year old Chase.
We attended an informal memorial Saturday night hosted by the parents of a couple of our junior riders. With the funeral still a week away, it was thought that it would be good for the barn kids who were closest to him to be able to grieve together in a less rigid environment than at the church later in the week. It was time for the adults who cared about him to grieve as well..
On Sunday, after spending some quality time with dear Belle, we decided the diversion of one of our little day-trips was in order. Yesterday was a glorious, sunny and warm day - perfect for being near the water. We had brunch at a great little local watering hole in Dana Point called Turks, and then headed on to the Ocean Institute - a place we'd first learned about last November - to take a peek around.
That night after graduation, he and some buddies were out in the city. They made a fateful decision to run across a set of railroad tracks, despite the fact that there was a train heading towards the station. It is assumed that they thought the train would be stopping at the station, but it did not. All the young men made it across except 23 year old Chase.
We attended an informal memorial Saturday night hosted by the parents of a couple of our junior riders. With the funeral still a week away, it was thought that it would be good for the barn kids who were closest to him to be able to grieve together in a less rigid environment than at the church later in the week. It was time for the adults who cared about him to grieve as well..
On Sunday, after spending some quality time with dear Belle, we decided the diversion of one of our little day-trips was in order. Yesterday was a glorious, sunny and warm day - perfect for being near the water. We had brunch at a great little local watering hole in Dana Point called Turks, and then headed on to the Ocean Institute - a place we'd first learned about last November - to take a peek around.
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