The Bitterness of November and a Tribute to My Cousin Dave

Every November, but especially on Thanksgiving I think mostly of my cousin Dave who was one of my best friends. I am very thankful for the time I had with him and all the I learned from him.

A Life Belongs To Everyone

It was a cold November night, November 26, 2001 to be exact. I was with my best friend Liz, who was also my roommate at the time. We were playing video games at our apartment. The phone rang and I answered it. My mom was on the phone. Her voice sounded strange and her words were hard to make out, but I paid no attention to it. She told me she was coming over to give me something and that she would be over soon. I quickly ended the phone conversation and ran back to the couch and continued playing video games.

Not too much later a knock came to the door. I opened it and not just my mom came, but my dad and brother as well. Being surprised why they had all come, I invited them in and realized that they had no object to give me. I looked at them blankly yet puzzled and in my mind started to question what it was that they had come over for. After a moment of a silent stare my mom began to speak as a tear rolled down her face and dripped off her chin. She got off a short sentence before she couldn't speak any longer “Debi, your cousin Dave shot himself.” My mind instantly flashed to images as to what the scene would have been. I saw him rabbit hunting, as we always did, and his gun accidentally going off and shooting his leg. To me he was going to be just fine, but as the images in my head had begun to fade and reality started to strike, I knew what she meant. He had commited suicide.

My mom started to approach me to give me a hug, but I sharply pulled away from her. I sat back down in front of the television wanting to ignore the fact that my cousin, one of my best friends who I had grown up with, was now dead. I wanted to deny and completely foreget what I had just heard and go back to playing video games. My dad and brother didn't say anything except goodbye as they walked out the door. Liz sat down next to me and put her hand on my shoulder tying to comfort me, but that was the last thing I wanted. My heart hurt more deeply than any pain I had ever felt. I had no idea how to react. All I knew is that I had just lost something very dear to me and I hurt beyond what I could comprehend. Tears were worthless, screaming was senceless, and grieving was an understatement.


As the years have gone by and thinking back, I have come to an acceptance of the tragic loss. I love my cousin Dave and can't wait to see him on that beautiful day in heaven, but until then he will be always in my heart.

David Michael Herring
June 19, 1981- November 26, 2001.