RIP Jay

I woke up the other day and saw a post on Eric Kohl's Facebook saying, "Love you brother" with a link to a friend, Jay Cahill. I realized that it was a tribute and that Jay had passed. This made me so sad because he was way too young (a year older than I) and such a sunny, sweet, hilarious person. Another amazing human who was gone too soon. I sent Eric a text asking what had happened. Apparently Jay had been battling cancer these last several years but had turned a corner and was doing well. On Friday, he wasn't feeling great but he went out with friends and had a great time. When he went home, he never made it to bed and was found the next morning in a chair, I'm assuming by his wife. Most likely the effects of cancer...it just wore his body out...who knows but it's stupid! 

I had known Jay since high school. I knew him because he was a centerpiece in a group of friends that included many like Eric Kohl, Phil Castellini and others that no one who reads this would know, however, Phil and one of my best friends, Susie dated in high school and I had a pretty major crush on Jay. It turned out that Jay and I (along with Adrienne, my roommate) attended Northeastern together our freshman year (Jay and I transferred to other schools after our first year; he to Florida and I to UC). Though Jay lived a couple blocks away from us in Boston, we would meet up a few times a week to have lunch in the cafeteria. If you've ever heard me talk about a person I knew who was a saltaholic, even salting his salad and pizza, that was Jay. He and I also took a "study skills" class together and all I remember about that is running in late most days because we were smoking outside (he was a HEAVY smoker; heavier than I). We saw several Dead shows together after we both returned to Cincy and some of our circles of friends continued to mingle. The things that I'll remember about Jay are his hugs and his smile. Whenever I saw him he would hug me, almost lifting me off my feet (no small feat) and say how much he missed me and how much fun we had in Boston. He was the center of his circle of friends and I know that tight group will always have a hole that will never be filled. I'm so sick of young people dying! But, he had a FULL life and was surrounded by love and I guess in the end, that's all you can ask. 

Not much else is happening here. School is fine but for some reason the kids were extra annoying yesterday and extra stupid. They were driving me NUTS and I nearly lost my mind. I can't tell you how many times I almost said, "Can you all just shut the fuck up!?" But I managed to hold it in and vent to Lisa instead (she was dealing with the same issues). I'm hoping that today is different and they don't make me want to jump out the window but I don't have great optimism in this. 

Okay - well, time to hit the road. I'm not sure what's for dinner. Maybe some "Marry Me Chicken", rice and broccoli. 

Happy Tuesday! Later!