10/28/2026
Tomorrow it will be 30 years since I lost a friend to su***de.
I was 18 when I started at Mount Vernon Realty, working in the office with him and the processing manager. He was the sales manager there. I got my license at 19, and he became my first manager. He took a chance on a kid and made me believe I could actually make a go of this business. I don't think I'd be where I am today without him.
He was a pacer. Always pacing back and forth, always thinking. Looking back now, there were signs I just didn't see at the time. I was young, and to me he was the guy who had it all together. He hid it well, and he was always there for everybody else.
If there's one thing I've learned, it's that you can't always tell who's hurting. So check on your friends, even the ones who seem fine. And if you're struggling, please talk to somebody. Call or text 988 if you need to.
I still miss you, my friend. Thank you for believing in me.
