Because our sons are all 5 years apart, I always say that Sam and I have 3 only children.  Each has a totally different personality, along with special strengths and soft spots.  One common trait is that they rarely approach anything in a traditional way.  We encouraged them to think out of the box and be true to themselves.  We cultivated positive self-images while supporting divergent thinking; doing what was right, especially when it was not conventional or popular; and reaching out to help others along the way.  Each carved his own path, which often made life “very interesting.”  We have been very close to each of our sons and the brothers were trusted confidants and support systems to each other, as well.

Jory was the middle child (in this photo, he's on the left in green) and a free spirit from birth.  He confided in us and told us everything . . . we'll, almost everything except his passwords, but that's a future story.  We knew that he was very bright, creative, and talented, but we didn't know that others recognized those attributes in him, as well.  We also knew that he was kind, caring, romantic, and thoughtful, with lots of friends and acquaintances.  We didn't know that he was a celebrity or a sound legend, and I don't think he knew it either.

Losing a child is every mother’s nightmare.  Trying to deal with that loss is indescribable.  First, we were in shock, then we were hopeful, and ultimately we came to realize that we were helpless.  Jory's friends from all over the world burst forth to surround us with love, support, and strength.  We are indebted to them.  Hungry for information and craving answers,  Jory's friends were hurting right alongside us.  There were tons of questions and offers of help, but most touching to our hearts were the thousands of stories and shared experiences that appeared on social media.  Those stories opened our eyes to events that we weren’t there to see and feelings that we hadn’t yet felt.  Many questions about Jory and what made him tick have remained unanswered.

As his Mom, I was thrust right into the middle of social media as the spokesperson and liaison between our small family and Jory's huge world.  This blog is intended to answer many of those questions as well as give strength and support to others who are dealing with similar issues, such as raising brilliant, creative, free spirited, or one of a kind kids.  I don't have the answers, but I’ll share our experiences through random short stories.  It’s my gift to you, those who loved and admired Jory.  Together, we'll keep Jory's memory alive while reaching out to each other and continuing all the good that he began.