July 5th 1986, Doug was 17 at the time, he went out
with his buddies to a dance in Ashville.
They were all drinking and the driver was quite intoxicated.
I'll never forget the phone ringing in the middle of the night.
My dad's bedroom door opened and he knocked on my
sister's door. The next thing I heard was my sister
crying uncontrolably. Dad then came into my room, with
his arm around my sister...he said:
"There was an accident, Doug was killed."
As I sit and write this the tears still fall.
It feels like only yesterday.

There hasn't been a day since then that I haven't thought of him.
Every night I say my prayers and then I say good night
to my big brother and tell him that I will always remember
him and always love him. I feel that Doug is always with me,
at the worst times in my life I know he is there for me,
helping me through it...
During the best times in my life I know he is smiling with me.

Letting go of Doug in the physical sense was the hardest thing
I ever had to do. Yet his memory will always be with me and
I can feel his spirit all around me especially through
my highs and lows in life.

When Doug was living I never told him I loved him as my brother,
though I called him my "big bro" I never said the words.
This is one thing that I will always regret. And one thing
I will never let happen again. Everytime I speak with my
friends, before we hang up the phone, I say "I love you" or
if I am with my friends in person we always give big hugs
and a kiss on the cheek and say "I love you."

Please learn from my mistake and let those who you love know
you love them, not only through your actions but also
through the three little words that mean so much.

I LOVE YOU.