| Finding Peace At Home |
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 “Now I’ve been crying lately, thinking about the world as it is. Why must we go on hating, why can’t we live in bliss? Cause out on the edge of darkness, there rides a peacetrain, oh peacetrain take this country, take me home again” -Cat StevensUpon first hearing of the tragic and violent events of June 13th 2008, I became frozen in shock and disbelief. Standing within the walls of a room I had called my bedroom for over 13 years, I found myself completely lost. Everything that was once familiar instantly became foreign; I was petrified. All I wanted to be able to do was to hop a ride on that peacetrain, and find my way home again. For me, and many other friends of Dylan and Oliver, home for that first week became the Ellis’ house. As the news spread across the city, country and world on that fateful morning, you could watch as more and more people gathered on the front lawn of their house, the place where we could find peace in wake of such violence; it became home to all of us. As painful as those initial days were, it was impossible not to recognize the sheer beauty of seeing everyone come together from all corners of the world, and do nothing but love one another. Any frivolous indifferences or disagreements from the past became irrelevant, our vulnerable hearts were exposed, and all we could do was be there for one another. Friends that had allowed their life paths to guide them away from Toronto were instantly brought back home, people from the past who had become strangers were friends once again, and anyone who was a friend of the boys, became friends of one another. We all became family. After the sun had gone down, bottles of Jack started to circulate the driveway and with our arms wrapped around one another, the guitars came out and in harmony, it was the music that allowed us to be at peace. I have taken a lot from this experience, but the most evident and certainly the most valuable thing I have learned, is the importance of love. This group of friends is unique not only in its size, but in our ability and willingness to unconditionally love one another. Dyl and Oliver were two of the most fun-loving people in the world; I am certain they taught each and every one of us who knew them how to enjoy life as much as possible, by loving who you are, and the people that surround you. While romance expresses love between lovers, it is laughter that truly shows the love amongst friends. There isn’t a memory I have with Dylan and Oliver that doesn’t involve a lot of laughing. Laughter allows us to let our guards down and be at ease. It is through continually loving and laughing that we can truly honor these boys. For those who knew Dylan and Oliver, I know we will never stop remembering and honoring them for the exceptional men they were, but we must be sure to not allow ourselves to forget how to love and laugh like they did. We must all stop waiting for a tragedy in order to learn how important love and friendship is. For those who didn’t have the privilege of knowing these boys, learn from them and take the time to reach out to friends you have let slip away, if only to share a laugh. For it is only through constant laughter, love and friendship, that we can all truly be at peace.
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Nick
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... J, this article literally brought me to tears. So beautifully written and with all the right things said. I'm so impressed with the article and the website in general. You guys have really done an unbelievable job. |
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