N had very few requests of me before he departed. But writing up a notice about his life in our University of Puget Sound (Tacoma, Washington) alumni magazine called ARCHES was one of his wishes. I finally did it. I’m posting it here on the 11 month anniversary of his departure which is a recollection of a very, very sad time for our family. Thankful he is free from all sorrow now. The actual article is here on page 48 of the ARCHES Spring 2016 edition or you can read below.

One of my favorite stories about Nathanael takes place on a gray fall afternoon in Tacoma, Washington circa 2003. N and I were engaged and he visited me for lunch at Jennie Reed Elementary School where I worked as an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher. I don't remember our lunch date, but I do remember what happened after N stepped out of my classroom. He told me that as he was walking down the dim hallway back to his car (the Cadillac he dubbed White Lightning, pictu