#nickmoore

At some point during ones life, at the end of this era or that, you realize that all those people who made up this shallow water known as “your life” are now going off in their own separate directions to find unique horizons. When you realize this you first think “oh fuck, this sucks!” or something like that. After a little time however, you begin to see the kaleidoscopic beauty of the multitude of faces which have come to mark your memory, and you are struck by some vision of all the possible things which they may become and the sheer excitement which comes from having the privilege of being allowed to see where their roads may possibly lead. You imagine some “Big Chill” esque event thirty years in the future when you will see all these faces again and you will read the stories of their lives, you imagine it will be good and all the loose ends will be tied up in the logic of some mature understanding. Maybe this emotion will fade as well. I feel like I know this however, we bare witness to each other in every past tense, and this is not a light burden. 

We lost another good man today. And the only difference between the man we lost today and the men that we have become accustomed to losing over the years is a single metric: age. Nick Moore (also known as Nicky in his formative years) was twenty-eight years old. 

I will always remember the first time that I met Nicky (I feel comfortable using that nombre here because, at least in my own impressionable mind, he will always be remembered as Nicky). 

Nicky was the new kid. He was “cool” because he had arrived in Jacksonville, Oregon and hailed from somewhere much “cooler” than Jacksonville (California if you can trust my mercurial memory). 

Nicky had arrived at Jacksonville Elementary School during a golden age of learning. The majority of teachers at Jacksonville Elementary during that time (the middle 1990s) were very “seasoned.” Some referred to them as “masters of the craft of teaching.” In turn, the State of Oregon referred to Jacksonville Elementary somewhat regularly as an “Excellent” or “Exceptional” learning environment. 

The reason for Nicky’s arrival was unclear. Some say it had to do with an employment opportunity on the part of one of his parents. Others said something contradictory. It mattered little what was said. All that mattered was that Jacksonville had been blessed with a new leader and it was my “job” to show this young man around his new academic quarters. I felt honored. 

From the beginning, it was clear that Nick was unlike all the other boys at Jacksonville. He stood a little taller. He played basketball and could actually score when he needed to. On some days, he wore blue jeans and a white t-shirt.