I don't wanna be a downer, and anyone who knows Nicky Long knows it's rare to find me upset or down. But today, I just wanna be serious for a second. Today marks the 5th anniversary to the day of the date my best friend Jack passed away in a tragic car accident. It was five years ago today that he was travelling to celebrate his crossing into a fraternity he'd been pledging in college and after a long night of celebrating, he and his "brothers" were driving back to school at UVA. Around the Northern Virginia area, his friend fell asleep at the wheel and they hit a tree. Despite wearing a seatbelt in the backseat, Jack suffered internal injuries that led to his death at the hospital.
Jack was one of my closest friends growing up. Aside from my other best friends Will and Ali, I spent the majority of my childhood in his basement or hanging out with him during and after school. He was the nicest guy I ever knew and everything he did, he put 200% effort into. He was a bright star who I feel had the most potential of any of my friends, but as fate would have it, his light burned out early.
You never know what life is going to bring, so please take advantage of the times you have. Don't brush off that invitation from a friend to go out to a club or a bar. Don't pass up the opportunity to eat a potluck dinner with some friends. Don't skip a movie that all your friends are seeing just 'cause it's not your type of movie. Making good memories isn't about where you're at or what you're doing. It's about spending valuable time with the ones you love. And those are moments that can never be recreated. You never know what lies in store for you and your friends, so live your life to the fullest and spend every moment you can with those you love.
I still miss you dearly Jack. I can't even begin to list all the great "memories" that we've created since you've been gone and every now and then, it brings a tear to my eye to think of what could've been, if you were still around. I know you're in a better place now, and one day we will see each other again. From all your brothers back here in Burke, LB, the 3 Musketeers...we miss you. Rest in Peace.
R.I.P
Jack Tse-Hou Chen
August 12, 1982 --- November 16, 2000
From all the boys, may you Rest in Peace, Jack.
