Tuesday, April 20, 2010

A Tribute To CJ Twomey…

It may seem strange to some of you that I would be writing a tribute to a young man I never met yet I feel I know…

In Loving Memory of CJ

When I first started reading blogs I really thought what an interesting thing to do… to be able to sit and write funny stories about your life, your family or whatever thing might come to your mind but I never thought of myself as being able to wade through all the technology I figured you had to learn to be able to write a blog.  I mean I have amassed many stories, mostly funny, some sad, some thoughtful and some downright ornery but I didn’t have the nerve to even think about trying to write a blog of my own until I ran across Hallie’s Wonderful World Of Weiners.

I read a comment that Hallie had made on another blog and it was just irreverent and ornery enough to pique my interest and clicked on her name and wandered into the most incredible, fun loving, and just plain loving family with all the attributes of my own family, just less kids.  While Hallie, John, CJ and Connor loved to tease each other and play jokes on each other the love in their family was very apparent from the first post of Hallie’s that I read.  As I kept reading I learned not only of the love and fun they had as a family I found that Hallie’s twisted and sarcastic tales, not only about the weiners, but also about CJ and Connor, John and Hallie herself drew me into the family.  I read about CJ’s excitement about when he first went into a special program in the Air Force.  One proud Shmoops and one even prouder mom. 

When I feel a kinship with a blogger I tend to go back and read from their beginning of the great adventure into the blogsphere.  Every post I read made me want to come back and read some more and that is how I got to ‘know’ CJ.  He had the most incredible smile.  His eyes just danced in every picture that I saw of him, especially when he was horsing around with Connor.  I could see the love they had for each other. The way Connor looked up to his big brother and the way that CJ returned that love.  Every family picture I saw CJ was always smiling that great smile, not just a posed smile for the camera.  I felt that everything about him was for real, that he lived every moment for that moment. 

I didn’t kid myself that it was all a fairy tale happy world, no family’s world is… there are arguments and fights and tears and groundings but you could tell there was much more happiness and good times than there were bad.  There is going to be such a void in the Twomey’s world, not only Hallie and John with the loss of their oldest son, but in Connor’s world also.  He lost his only brother, the brother he looked up to and admired, his touchstone and his confidante. 

I hope that CJ had half a clue of the many people he and his family touched in his too short life.  We will never know the whys, but one thing I know is the good Lord has one helluva soldier in his heavenly world.

I wish I’d had the chance to meet CJ and his family in real life but I feel like I knew him and I know that every time I’d see jet trails in the sky I’d think of an airman nicknamed Shmoops… and now every time I see a jet trail in the sky I’ll say a prayer for strength for his family to get through this horrible time to the time when, although the sadness will never go away, that the Twomeys will be able to laugh and tell stories of the Shmoopy man of Twomey land.

If you’d like to know more about CJ you can go to Hallie’s blog, The Wonderful World Of Weiners and read the tribute to CJ written by two close friends of the family by clicking on this link:

Wonderful World of Wieners

CJ, thank you for the joy in your smile that made me smile and may the good Lord hold you and your family close and soothe and protect you all and give them the strength to keep on going after this huge loss.

Helen

21 comments:

joanne said...

beautiful post Helen. I wish I knew how to put into words what I feel for this young man and his family...they truly have touched so many lives. take care my friend.

Debbie said...

Oh,Helen...this is beautiful and such a perfect tribute to CJ. I can feel the love and sadness you feel, but also the happiness the WWOW family has brought to you. I feel the same.

Unknown said...

this is such a beautiful tribute to a good son and a proud Airman.
My prayers will continue for Hallie, John and Connor...along with eternal thanks for CJ being CJ!
~AM

Laura ~Peach~ said...

well said i like so many followed a comment and got stuck in weinerville... i am not a wordy person and dont want to link my blog to facebook but, most assuredly feel as you do abotu this family.

Anonymous said...

A very special tribute to CJ and the Wieners.

Lucy and Ethel said...

Well, I'm not exactly sure how I landed on your blog, but I knew I had to snoop a little because my (real!) name is Helen, too :)

It is easy to feel like you know someone, even if just a little, by reading their blogs. I had visited Hallie's blog last year several times, and I agree; she obviously thinks the world of her family.

They'll need prayers for a long, long time.

'Lucy'

Lonicera said...

Helen - indeed a moving post, and I've read Hallie and her families' entries, (I read her occasionally, having discovered her through you). All the way through I'm asking 'but what happened?'. A health failure? An accident? I'm sorry if I've missed it. This isn't idle curiosity - I hope you don't mind my commenting (?).
Caroline

Lisa said...

Helen, I think you found the "right" words for this post. Any time a young person loses his life, or takes his life or his life is taken from him, there is a tremendous amnount of pain. I have NOT been there myself, but as an officer of the law I have been around it more times than I can count. I have always said I do not know how I would get out of bed if that happened to me. The pain when one takes their own life is right up there with murder. Cancer or car accident is one thing, but this is completely another. My heart just aches, it is beyond words, I feel so badly for them and I know there is not ONE thing I can do to take away their pain. I hate this feeling of helplessness. Hallie and her family is well loved, well supported and maybe, just maybe, that love will pull them through. And Conner, that man has a lot on his plate now. This family just like so many, will need to pull on their faith, lean on their friends, and hug each other tightly. You have done such a wonderful job of recognizing a special young man and his family.

Anna Lefler said...

What a lovely tribute. My heart hurts so much for the WWOW family.

I know your words mean the world to them.

Hope all is well with you...

XO

Anna

farmlady said...

Oh Helen, how sad. What a lovely tribute by a blogging friend. This was very nice of you.

Debbie said...

Just beautiful Helen, Just beautiful. Thanks for writing it. Your words are so sweet and so how so much of us feel.

God Bless~
Debbie Jean

Mary Ellen said...

I keep saying this, but just when I think I can't cry any more...

This is a perfect tribute to CJ and to what Hallie has meant to those who know her through her blog. Thank you.

I've missed you, Helen.

Alice said...

Just lovely. xoox

Lonicera said...

Where are you? How are you?
Caroline

Nola said...

That was lovely Helen. I also wonder what happened like Caroline? Where are you by the way......are you OK? I have got some of your emails (which I loved), so I am guessing you are all right!

Robynn's Ravings said...

Sass, I was just over there again to check on them and I was so touched by the personal note you gave this. We DO get attached to each other and invested and I can't imagine what this dear family must be going through. I've lost a sister but not a child. I don't think you ever get over it. It just becomes the history before and the history after. And you find a new normal, whatever that is. But this is so heartbreaking.

I hope you had a good mother's day even though you don't think you're a mama. You are. To your babies and to those of us you pat and encourage, even if you're too young to be our mama. LOVE YOU.

Anonymous said...

JUST AWESOME!!!!!!Gr888 Job…

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well said i like so many followed a comment and got stuck in weinerville... i am not a wordy person and dont want to link my blog to facebook but, most assuredly feel as you do abotu this family.

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