The Golden Phoenix

So, for anyone who has friends in the military, you guys know that we all too often take for granted those who risk their lives for our (Americans) freedom, and we don't really appreciate them like we should... until they are gone.

Well I am guilty of this anyway, and I'm feeling very guilty at the moment. My friend, Sean Osterman, who joined the U.S. Marine Corp three years ago, was killed in Afghanistan just before Christmas.

Sean was one of my closest friends. We grew up together. He actually was a Pokemon lover as well, though not as much as I am at our age today. Sean and I would have many a link battle during the old-school Red/Blue/Yellow days in elementary school. Some of my fondest memories of him and I involve us running home from the school bus stop in the afternoons and watching the Pokemon anime while eating P,B & J sandwiches at my house.

For those who know me from the Writer's Workshop, this is why I have not been writing much lately. My stories have been put on hold.

I'm just now starting to be able to talk about Sean's death. It happened a few weeks ago and the funeral service was held yesterday, but haven't been able to really address it either through talking to family about it or writing about it here. But I think this is the perfect place to say that I love Sean as one of my best friends and truly appreciate now the magnitude of his life choice to join the Marines.

The funeral service was magnificent. A fitting tribute to a fallen hero. Fellow Marines and other officials were there to make sure Sean was given proper respect before he was laid to rest. A firing squad, American soldiers carrying his casket, the whole deal. It was sad obviously, but it was good to see Sean given such treatment... he deserved it.

We, the Bulbagarden community and the general United States population as a whole, really owe it to these guys to at least be compassionate to the sacrifices they make. I don't mean to sound all preachy and give the old 'salute our military' speech, but after something like this, I just kind of can't help it.

While we sometimes get too caught up in video game release dates, Christmas/Holiday contests for prizes, anime speculation and other things related to Pokemon, I think it's important to take a step back and really put things into perspective. These things that we place so much importance upon... are really not important.

What's important? Family. Friends. Laughter. Love. Life.

So yeah, sorry for the non-Pokemon-themed blog post... and sorry for the sad topic. But I just wanted to invite everyone who reads this to take a few minutes and really think about the important people in your life. Please... please just cherish your loved ones. Whether you are still in elementary school and don't fully understand how the world works, you are an agnsty teenager who 'hates' your parents because they wouldn't let you borrow the car last weekend, or you are an adult who thinks they have everything figured out... please just take a moment to remember that family, friends and love are everything.

Rest in peace, Sean.

Thank you.