SHARING OUR LOSS

Some of you have already read this on my high school class blog. Our family is still in shock over the loss of Craig. As someone said to me, "Our children are not supposed to go before we do!" He was such a big part of our lives, and for the first time we all were living here in Austin.

A Loss So Great..

...I don't know how to go on without him in my life. My first born child, Craig Young, died in his sleep Friday night. He was 62-years-old and enjoying his life more than he had in years. My daughter Carajean went to check on him for me as he was not answering my texts or voice mail. He was supposed to pick up groceries I had ordered and bring them to my house. We were going to have a "porch visit" that was past due. Carajean had to call 911 to come and check on Craig, and she wasn't allowed in until the Medical Examiner came. She could see him lying on the sofa, with his hand under his chin. Peaceful looking, but the police checked for a pulse. They told her there was no sign that it was anything other than a peaceful, natural death. I am so thankful that they had a grief counselor come to assist Carrie until her brother Matthew and his wife Amy arrived. We do not have the final arrangements as of yet. Craig's two children, Cameron and Hannah, are to come here from Fort Worth and Dallas in the next day or two. They will make plans at that time. Cameron posted the following beautiful tribute to Craig on Facebook the next day. His writing is in Italics, and I made a few comments in regular type.

"I lost my best friend last night. One of the most loving people I've ever known. Of all the ways I can think of to pay tribute to him (and will at some point), here's what he would want on here first and foremost. He instilled in me from an early age a desire to fight for a loving, just, and inclusive world. He told me stories about how racism and bigotry has harmed our society, but also about the countless heroes who had come before us and managed to make things better - even if it was just a little bit. He also taught me that democracy (with some help), however flawed it may be, is our absolute best shot to achieve that vision. 

"My dad was in his early twenties (correction, Cameron, he was only 19) working at the Sheraton Hotel in Waco, TX when Alex Haley stayed there - the Roots miniseries had just been released. My dad rashly knocked on his door in the middle of the night, to tell Mr. Haley (who answered the door in his underwear), 'I want to thank you for what you've done for this country.' Alex Haley would later write about this encounter in Playboy magazine ('I didn't know whether to hug him or punch him'). Leave it to some well-intentioned hippie white boy, but it's a beautiful reflection of his personality. Going out of his way to make his principles known, and hopefully, making Alex Haley feel a little more welcomed in an otherwise unwelcoming place. 

"My dad was a lifelong Democrat - like 'canvassed for McGovern when he was 14' Democrat. He was a delegate for the Texas Convention more times than I can count (including this year). He was active in the Nuclear Disarmament movement in the 80s. (He was on the 7-member board of directors of the Texas Nuclear Freeze Movement -- all but Craig were PhDs.) Here is a picture he took marching with Jesse Jackson in a demonstration that I assume has roots in the Rainbow Coalition of the 60s. (I couldn't find the one with Craig in it, but this was on the day Craig joined him in 1985.)

(This was actually in June 1985. I got a call from Craig, 'Don't be surprised, Mom, if you get a call from me saying I'm in jail!' Needless to say, I was a little concerned. He went on to say, 'It was called the March for Peace and Justice. Apartheid was one of many issues being protested. I still have a couple of pictures of him standing a few feet away from me being interviewed prior to the march. We started at Lafayette Park, marched down Pennsylvania Ave. and ended at the Capitol lawn, where he and many others spoke. About 100,000 people, according to Park Police estimates.')

"He was counting down the days to see Mango Mussolini voted out of office and to have integrity, reason, and kindness return to our national and local leadership. I'm hurt that he won't see that, but in some ways relieved that he may not have to witness how hard indeed the coming weeks and months could be for our country. With that said - Vote your a** off! Get organized to protect that right for others. My Dad recognized that Donald J. Trump and his enablers pose the single biggest existential threat to those fundamental rights that he had seen in his lifetime. Do it for our climate in peril, for the countless people being marginalized, erased, or otherwise harmed by those in power. For women and trans folk. For the kids separated from their families. For those we've lost to COVID and other stuff because of our negligible leadership and healthcare system. For my dad." 

"I love you so much, Dad."

Cameron's LSU Sr Recital
Cameron-Hannah-Craig

Many of you already know about Craig. He was as crazy about his children as they are about him. When Cameron left for college, Craig wrote a moving article about him as well: Number One Son

Cameron has been going over some of the things his dad has saved and ran across that post. He left a sweet comment at the end.

This has helped...just to write about it. Stay well everyone..and please vote if you haven't yet. Craig will be watching from above.

Peace and Love,

Marilyn