Last night was the culmination of years of hard work. FCTS now has a lighted Football Field. Connor and his fellow Electrical Shop students worked putting in those lights. Running the conduit and everything else necessary to for Tech to be able play under Friday night lights.

Unfortunately Connor wasn’t here to see them to fruition. But all the people who love him, and have supported me were there. There as Superintendent Rick Martin said “Connor will live on through those lights, and that every time we turn these lights on we will honor Connor.” My heart broke a little bit, but swelled with pride and honor all at the same time. Pride and honor because of the exceptional young man I raised. Broken because he wasn’t here to witness the fruits of his labor, because his was a life cut way too short.

Connor didn’t play Football at Tech, but he played Suburban Football and Middle School Football at Mohawk, much to the chagrin of this nervous Mom. I spent many nervous games watching through fingers over my eyes. He got bumped and bruised. Never seriously hurt. But I was glad when he chose not to play at Tech.

Instead he chose to follow his passion, Baseball and Electrical. There is no way I could be any prouder of him. It goes without saying that I wake up every morning wishing that this was a bad dream, realizing that it isn’t and there isn’t a damn thing that I can do about it. But hold onto all the memories and all the honors bestowed upon Connor and all of us.