If there is any chance that my words, collected from the deepest place in my heart bring comfort to you, then already it will be a mission accomplished. I so long to bring some semblance of order to a community blanketed with heavy grief. So in memory of Bo, I am here with privilege. May you hear my heart!

Last Saturday, just a week ago today, I heard the name Bo Fisher uttered in my home from the mouth of my daughter for the very first time since Jr. High. Unlike many of you, I have not been blessed with memories of Bo since then. I understand now, that, that is my loss. With the completion of Jr. High, came also the completion of a fun friendship between Bo and my daughter. It happens. The introduction of a new high school played a major role in their change of friendship. I am sure to that story, they are not alone. Bo found himself at Council Rock North, entertaining the fortunate students and staff there. Kim found comfort at Coucil Rock South. Separately, they settled in at their new schools and began that precious time in life called, “high school!” So much to do, so much to feel, so much to see. In a blink of an eye, both Bo and Kim were embarking on Senior year. Only this time, they were to be Seniors under the very same roof…a fact I learned from Bo’s mom as we left a meeting last week, side be side. I told her how wonderful it would be for South to have her boy in their grips. She reminded me of how difficult it was to process his transfer through the loss of guardianship. As a mom, I saw her actions as a huge act of love. Bo, through mom’s courage, had the opportunity for a life at South…something his mom knew he had longed for. Never could I have imagined that his transfer would bring him so quickly back to my daughter again. Three days of school was all it took for their friendship to rekindle. I can only imagine that the depth of their friendship would have measured greatly as their senior year unfolded. I wish it could be that simple.

None of us can ever be sure of the burdens we encounter in life. You may wonder how people can even get along. But even in life’s darkest hours, the power of faith abounds.

My daughter had the privilege of sharing in almost the entire last day of Bo’s life. When your child comes to you and tells you that in spite of all the trauma, she would never trade places with anyone, then I have got to believe that such a statement reflects the true beauty of her day with him and their friends.

She describes the time she spent playing football on the beach with him as being the best time she has ever had on any beach. Ever! She was partnered with Bo as teammates in football, and together with their friends, and even two strangers that had asked to join in, carried out the meaning of friendship in its simplest form. But perhaps the most telling statememt of all came from Bo himself that day when he told his friend, John, and I quote, “This is the happiest day of my life!” Who could have known?

I asked God to help me ease Kim’s pain with words of comfort on Sunday morning. I wasn’t really sure that such words could exist. As I tried to explain how after years of separation, she would spend Bo’s last day of life with him, I told her this.

I believe that God looked throughout our community in search of a kind soul, one filled with great faith, great strength, great courage, and great instincts. All of these necessary to have been there for others. I told her I believe God asked of her a very tall order. And in His asking, He provided her with an angel at such a time of great need. Kim’s best friend, Stef, shared in the day with an unwavering conviction to the exchange of beauty between friends that day. Stef was Kim’s angel as they carried out God’s very tall order with a peace and a strength second to none. Caught up in the moment, I believed these words from God’s lips to my ears, made sense to Kim. May they always make sense.

The morning following the candlelight vigil, I returned with a friend to that very same place to be certain that things there were clean and clutter free. I made several loops around that area when I noticed two pennies “heads up” at my feet. Immediately, I recalled a poem from my past, entitled, “Pennies from Heaven.” The significance of those pennies spoke volumes to me for already I could feel Bo at work. Those two pennies, heaven-sent to me, are my gift of hope that I gave to Stef and Kim. For the rest of their lives, I’ve asked them to keep those pennies and Bo’s impact on their lives so close to their hearts.

So where and how do we go from here? How do we keep the larger than life, Bo Fisher, a part of the very good that is in each and every one of us? How does the Senior Class of 2005, Council Rock North and South, begin to heal?

I believe that we can begin to honor the memory of Bo by honoring and believing in something greater than us all. When the sun stirs up a new day, we need to see the awesome possibilities of that brand new day. We need to carry an attitude of love and caring for the neighbor or stranger at our side. We need to understand that although we are not all the same in shape, in size, in resources, and in beliefs, we all have a place, and a right, and a hope, and a dream.

Let today, upon our departure from one another, be the very first day that we begin to live for Bo, because of Bo, and with Bo. Let us slow down in hope that we can find pennies from heaven all around. May Bo’s family and friends, our community, the community of Sea Isle, and the graduating classes of 2005, find and share peace and love.

Choose wisely,
With love and sympathy,
The Hickey’s