Tragedy
Three weeks ago one of the assistant managers that worked alongside Allan had a motorcycle accident. He had just purchased a new machine hours earlier and for some reason he lost control and hit a grocery store window next to his apartment building before careening across a highway and into a cemetery. No one knows why he wasn't wearing his helmet or what really led up to his hitting the window, but he has been in a drug-induced coma as they let his brain heal since that awful day. They have tried several times to pull him out of the coma, but each time his intracranial pressure rose too much and they would have to stop. This week they have been very slowly reducing his meds, which had been working until last night. He had a stroke and died shortly after, he was 24 years old.

Allan went into work early today, called in to help the staff as they learn of Brian's death and to help keep the store running while the other managers grieve as well. He is also hoping to get a memorial organized for the store, as Brian will likely be buried in BC where he grew up and his family resides.

Death is never easy, but when death happens so young it is doubly difficult. Parents should never outlive their parents, but it happens too frequently. I cannot imagine losing one of my own children. I have been thinking a lot today about my former employer whose daughter died in a vehicle rollover when riding with friends several years ago. She was only sixteen and her death devastated her parents. I pray for strength for Brian's parents as they grieve their young son's death.