And as another beautiful day unfolds, my mind and body feels triggered back to 17 years ago when I found out that my 17 year old son, Michael, died on Sunrise Highway.

I find myself taking time to look around at all the things that have changed, and yet remain the same. I know that my body and mind responds each time I hear about an accident, or loss of a child. Accidents and tragedies still happen, and too many families and loved ones have been brought into this club of forced survivors. Each person in their own grief journey, yet tied together by a common path of working through the loss -- that universal feeling of having their lives taken away as well.

I felt that way for years. But somewhere back in time, the memories of Michael -- the pictures, the stories, the things that I still have that were his -- began to grow into something more. Somewhere along these years, these memories became blessings that reminded me that my youngest son is still a part of my life.

I used to say Michael took my life away. Yes! July 22, 1998 made my life stop dramatically. But yet I was the survivor -- my life went on. And as I look back now, it was that stop that made it possible to see what living life was supposed to be about.

Now I say that Michael gave me my life back. There is no person, no child, who would come back and tell their loved ones to avoid the life in front of them. It took time to sort it out, but I have learned that in order to honor Michael's life and go on and live mine, I just had to look at him in a different way.

Michael is a part of how I speak, when I find myself surprised at words and ideas I never knew I had. Michael is part of how I manage my day, when silly things go wrong, when amazing things go right, or when things just fall into place. Michael is there to stop my thoughts when I need to be more open minded or even just to take a break from the often hectic pace I get wrapped up in.

I am fortunate to have a way to reach out and help others through loss. And I find myself asking Michael to step into the hearts and minds of the media to get them to work harder at delivering inspiration based "after-loss" surival stories.

And while today is a critical and emotional date, so is that date in January 34 years ago when he was born. Today I honor his life by seeing the whole picture... and embrace his blessings with my whole heart and soul more than ever before.

Our blessing and best wishes to you  -- Ron

To Mike --

You still have that ability to love, laugh, divert, joke, twist and work my life while still leaving me speechless.

Keep up the good work!!     I love you so much more -- Dad