Beautiful! Gorgeous! Wish you were here... Chicago

Sometimes it hits you when you least expect it. You might be driving down the road listening to a song on the radio, you might be paging through an old photo album, you might be watching your favorite show on TV, or you might be traveling somewhere away from home. It's that feeling that reminds you of someone. It's that feeling that makes you wish they were here.

I often share stories of the places that I have been blessed to visit with the tag line stolen from a Meg Ryan movie "Beautiful! Gorgeous! Wish you were here!" This is a sentiment that I often feel when traveling as I think about how someone that I know would so love to be where I am at that moment, seeing what I'm seeing, feeling the sun on their face, or watching it set into the water. I've hoped that in sharing my stories with you that in some ways, I've brought you along  - happy to give you a taste of these places and making me feel like I've experienced these stories with people that I love. This past weekend, John and I had the opportunity to visit Chicago for the Chicago Air and Water Show. We've gone to this show many times over the years and have had different experiences each visit. And, we were fortunate this past weekend to enjoy one of the best trips ever. The weather, though hot, was near perfect and we very much enjoyed watching the heroic feats over the air and water.

However, upon returning home, we heard the very sad news that one of the young men who had been a part of the show - a parachutist with the Golden Knights - suffered grave injuries during an accident at the show, and tragically lost his life today. We saw the moment that something went wrong but as we stood on North Avenue Beach with the announcer telling us that everything was going beautifully, we ignored our instincts that something had gone wrong and assumed that we had misunderstood. We went about our afternoon, cheering as this young man's team-mates safely landed in front of us, and had no idea that only a short distance away, this young man was in such a dire and fatal situation.

We didn't know this young man of course. Though the Golden Knights in fact were staying at the same hotel that we were - and we had just seen a large group of them the evening before in the hotel lobby - looking so incredibly strong, and young, and...confident. I'm sure they were very excited about the opportunity in the weekend ahead to showcase their talents during this amazing show in Chicago.

I didn't know this young man. But I've been honored to know some like him. Young men who stand tall and strong and do the right things. Young men who hold the door open for ladies and address you as "yes, ma'am". Young men who follow their dreams - sometimes living dangerously - but living with such intense passion that you can't fault them for pursuing what they love. They are an inspiration to us all and if you  have ever been lucky enough to know one of these kind of men, count yourself among the blessed fortunate.

I know that this young man's family will have a lifetime ahead of them now of moments. Driving in cars, hearing a song, watching a show, traveling to a new place - where they will think "I wish you were here." My prayers go out to them.

Once, when traveling with my sisters, we were enjoying a moment and someone said "I wish so-and-so was here." One of my sisters shared that she had said this same thing on a recent trip with my Dad and he said "I know. But I guess I can just be glad that we are here."

We go through our days, hopefully appreciating the moments and often times, wishing that someone else was here with us. But in the end, I guess we all have to just be grateful that we are here and know that wherever our loved one are, they are well also.

As the announcer closed out the presentation of the Golden Knights yesterday afternoon, he said "May your days be prosperous and your Knights be Golden."

Sending prayers to the Golden Knight and to his family...