It Takes One's Breath Away!

I just learned shocking news. I was digging through file drawers searching for a paper when I came across the address book/calendar that John always carried in his briefcase. I kept it in case I'd ever need to contact one of his old friends.

I flipped through the pages before putting it back in the drawer and noticed the entry "Karl & Donna Teepe" (TEH-pee). Karl was his closest friend at the Defense Intelligence Agency.

When we married on March 16, 1996, we invited one couple from each facet of our lives. One couple was John's best golf buddy, who was married to a woman we sang with. Another couple traveled to Italy each January with John to ski. My best friend from law school was there. The woman with whom we had just finished staging a successful charity auction and her husband were there. And Karl and Donna.

He was a delightful man, intelligent, kind and funny all in one handsome man.

Today after seeing his name, I googled him to see if I could determine what he was up to these days.

I found the tribute to him in the Washington Post section remembering all the victims of the 9/11 Pentagon disaster.

You know those people who say there is no evidence a hijacked plane crashed into the Pentagon on 9/11. They're effing crazy. Crazy.

A good man lost his life. A very lovely lady lost her husband. Two young people lost their father. One hundred eighty-nine people lost their lives that day. Countless people lost their loved ones.

And I'll share with you a remembrance Donna wrote that was published in the Post. John had told me this story and we loved Karl's creativity:

"Karl believed in making your birthday a special day. Our daughter, Wendy, was born on July 14, Bastille Day. Her Dad always told her he would take her to Paris for her 16th birthday. On that special day we told Wendy and her 10-year-old brother, Adam, to get ready to go out for a special birthday dinner.

As we got in the car, Karl announced we had a surprise -- our bags were in the trunk and we were going to PARIS for Wendy's 16th Birthday. Wendy looked surprised, and Adam was very excited as we headed toward the airport from our house.

Pretty soon we came upon this small town and Karl announced here we were in Paris---Paris, Virginia, that is! We all laughed (Adam was bummed!) and we headed to our nice dinner, with a fun birthday memory.

Fortunately, we really did take Wendy (and Adam) to Paris (France, that is) for her 21st birthday adding another wonderful birthday memory and celebration."

-- Donna Teepe, wife

Postscript:

After writing and publishing the above story, I started searching to see if I could find Donna's e-mail address to write her a note, and found this beautiful love story. Out of the ashes . . . .