I can't sleep tonight.  God knows I need the rest.  The alarm will be sounding off at 5.  I just had another dream about my cousin, Joey, who passed away almost seven years ago.  I feel compelled to tell you the circumstances of his death and the life that wasn't finished.  He was only 21 when he died.  He was a senior at the University of Pittsburgh.  He lived off campus in an apartment building on the top floor.  He was murdered by the selfish act of another student who was stalking an ex-girlfriend.  Joey did not know his murderer or his murderer's ex-girlfriend.  God has placed this story on my heart.  It needs to be told and retold.  For what good can come of a death of such a young person?  The lesson that I have learned from this is to be more than thankful for each day we are given.  For it is truly a gift.  Do we appreciate each day we are given?  Do we miss opportunities to say how much we love each other?  Do we complain about our daily tasks?  Realize that it can all be taken away.  I have witnessed it first hand in my own family.  They say that time heals all wounds.  I struggle with that.  Does that mean I am not spiritual enough?  No.  He was a real person who occupies a real space within my heart.  Sure the pain isn't the same as the day we learned he died but nonetheless it hurts.  I am merely his cousin.  Can you imagine the pain of losing a child or a brother?  I am supposed to share this story with you for a reason.  What area in your life do you need to work on?  Are you holding on to something?  Are you neglecting to tell your loved ones how special they are to you?  Whatever the reason please listen to the rest of the story.  It happened a little after 5am on September 29, 2000.  Joey worked as a waiter at TGI Fridays.  The night before his death he attended a going away party at the restaurant he worked at for a fellow employee moving to Florida.  He was there until 2am.  He walked the long distance home and probably collapsed into bed somewhere around 3:30 or 4am.  Little did he know that there was a person plotting to do harm to him and the other tenants of his building.  Around 5am a fire broke out on the second floor.  He lived on the third floor.  The fire was the result of arson.  His murderer had stolen his ex-girlfriend's keys and crept into her apartment.  He lit a candle under the sofa inside her living room and LEFT.  By the time the tenants realized there was a fire and started to scream for help Joey had in his innocent sleep inhaled enough carbon monoxide to make it impossible for him to escape.  He did try though.  He was found in the fetal position at the base of a window.  Above his eye was a huge gash he received by trying to escape.  He had a room mate on the other side of his floor who barely escaped and had to be treated for carbon monoxide poisoning.  The tenants on the first and second floors escaped thank God.  This fire was reported on the morning news.  My mom heard the report as she drank her morning coffee.  The news reporter said that a fire had broken out on Craig Street.  She knew Joey lived on Craig and immediately called my Grandmother (Mimi is what we call her).  She never imagined it could have been his apartment building.  Being six months pregnant I was scheduled that morning to give blood for testing.  I had no knowledge of the fire till I returned home from my appointment.  I returned home to several messages left on our answering machine.  My husband lay asleep upstairs since he worked afternoon shift at the time.  I could tell by the tone in the voices of my Mom and Uncle that something was seriously wrong.  Thoughts shifted in my head.  What was it?  Who?  I called my Mom and she asked me to get my husband up to sit with me because she had some terrible news.  I was impatient with fear.  Just tell me I said over and over again.  When she told me I felt the air knocked out of me like when I was kid and swang too high on the swingset.  I threw the phone down and let out a loud scream.  My husband raced downstairs.  I pointed to the phone.  He spoke to my Mom and we just sat there for so long in silence.  Was this really happening?  Then it hit me.  What about his Mom, my Aunt Peg?  Surely she knew by now.  Where is she?  We have to be near her.  She did know.  She works as a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service.  She was delivering mail when her supervisor flagged her car over.  He explained that there had been an accident.  She questioned him if it was her Dad.  He said that it wasn't.  She asked, "Is it my kids?"  He said it was her son.  I wasn't there when he told her.  I cannot imagine how horrible she felt in that moment.  As a Mom myself I can only sympathize at how hard it must have been and still is.  The other person who feels his loss is his sister, Christina.  She was 15 at the time he died.  She was in school when they came to tell her that her hero was gone.  I carefully watched her during the week that followed and was amazed at the courage she had.  She comforted others who were grieving.  She stood beside her Mom and Dad thanking people who came to see her brother.  The pure strength was amazing to me.  We did not know that it was arson until nearly a week later.  Finding that out was another slap in an already bruised face.  Accidents happen but a deliberately set fire was too much.  We learned a lot about Joey's murderer in the weeks that passed.  He had been stalking his ex-girlfriend and threatening her.  She didn't report this to anyone.  Joey's murderer is now serving a life sentence in prison.  At his trial when asked to address my Aunt and Cousin he offered no sympathetic apologies.  Another slap.  It is important for you to understand that despite all of these details surrounding Joey's death my Aunt and Cousin have remained loving people.  They comfort one another in a way only they know how.  They are not bitter people.  God has equipped them both with such strength.  My Aunt just celebrated her fiftieth birthday in July and my Cousin, Christina, graduated from college this year with a degree in Spanish.  They honor Joey by carrying on day by day.  Please use each day wisely.  Let Joey's story make a positive impact on your life.  He was such a great person.  I love him very much.  Just because a person dies doesn't mean love dies with them.  He still holds a special place in my heart and I think about him often.  Think of my family on September 29th.  Pray for my Aunt, Uncle and Cousin.  Make the most of today.  Thank God for each day.  It truly is a blessing.