I haven’t been able to sleep all night. I got a phone call from my friend Smalls earlier this afternoon. At first, I thought it was some prank. And for a second I thought it had something to do with my family, because I know they stayed at our summer camp for the 4th of July. So I called back the number (which wasn’t previously added to my phone) and realized that it was Smalls who had called, one of my good friends from French Woods.

And then the news hit me. Smalls goes on to tell me that some people were out driving at FWF and there was a car accident involving Dina Goldstone along with some other people. I was shocked. Dina was one of the very first people I had met at FWF and we became pretty good friends. But then I realized something. What about the other people in the car? Dina and I both had the same friends at FWF. Was anyone else that I know hurt? I ended up emailing Dan Delaney, another really good friend of mine at FWF, and tried to find out some more information. I read the reply and discovered that not only did Dina Goldstone die in the car accident, but Chris Cloppas as well!

I was heartbroken. Chris and I were the best of friends this past summer. He treated me like a brother while I was there. Cloppas, Graham, along with a few others and myself…we all called ourselves G-Unit, and we were all so close. We even had code names. Cloppas was Polar Bear. Graham…Cracker. Quett was Chinatown. And Cloppas ended up calling me Shotgun, because of the breakdance move that I would do. I just couldn’t believe something like that would happen to him and Dina!

I broke down into tears when I heard the news. And it’s times like these when I thank God that I have Jenny for support…for someone who will give their shoulder to cry on. Afterwards, I called some people who I knew was pretty close to both Dina and Chris just to let them know what had happened. I also called the office at FWF just to get the official details. According to Larry, Chris, Dina, and a new counselor named Robbie, were driving when a deer came out and they swerved to miss it. They ended up crashing into a bunch of trees. Dina and Chris died instantly, and Robbie was ejected from the car, barely surviving the accident.

The kids are what worry me the most. These kids’ very existence revolves around going to FWF for the summer. And to think that about this time last year, Sheri died as well! I can remember Ron gathering everyone at camp and making the announcement that she had passed away…and the kids…just bursting into tears. It makes me so sad. I really hope the kids are alright. They would do anything for their counselors, especially for those as great as Chris and Dina.

It hurts so much to lose friends…

In memory of Dina Goldstone and Chris Cloppas