Heavy heart

As of late I have had the comings and goings of a heavy heart. Unless you have been under a rock recently you know that 2 F/A-18 Pilots died recently. There was a shooting in Coronado (the small resorty islandish city off the coast of San Diego) on New Years Day.

Now when you get to where we are in Aviation training it soon becomes apparent that everyone knows everyone. Mainly because all these pilots have been stationed together at one point or another.

And it is with a heavy heart that I say we knew one of those pilots affected by this incident in San Diego. Bob Reeves. He went through training in Mississippi with us. He was actually in Jet Pilot's class and went to the Aircraft Carrier to get qualified on the boat with him.

I happened to find out about the story because I read it on the Internet (without all the names initially) and being that the Aviator pool is so small and the fact that we actually know several pilots who live in San Diego I texted Jet Pilot and asked him to call Bob and make sure he was ok. I'm really not sure why I was so adamant that Jet Pilot do this I just felt this weird sense of urgency. When Jet Pilot finally called me back he told me the news, Bob was one of the people who was dead and all the details were still sketchy but it didn't look good.

I'm not going to rehash the details of the story, that's what Google
Is for, and honestly it's so sad I don't want to dredge it up again.

The authorities are saying Bob committed this horrible act, for that I have no words- he was a friend and nice guy and always seemed happy around us.

I do not know how to take all this...so I am giving it over to the Lord and asking for His hands to touch the minds and hearts affected by all this senseless tragedy.

I pray for the three families who's loved ones are gone, and I pray tonight for all the pilots who knew one or both of these Aviators. As a friend and co-worker I'm sure there are a multitude of questions or concerns that have rolled around in their heads and I pray for their peace of mind. God's plan is always at work.

I went back and forth as to whether or not I should publish this post but thanks to a good friend I decided I should. And honestly, I'm glad I did. It's like a load has been lifted-closure, or something.

So tonight hug your littles, kiss your spouse and never take it all for granted.
Because it could all be gone in a flash.