Anniversary date

Today is 4 years since our Robert Acosta died

of spinal meningitis.

For my followers who do not know,

Rob was one of Roddie's childhood friends,

the son of Marty and Jeri Acosta.

The kind of friend who basically lived at your home

or Rod living at his.

The kind of friend that you jokingly told you

would deduct him on your income tax.

It has been a loss not to have Rob with us.

Yet I must comment on the fact that

because of Robert's death,

this year as a school nurse, we were mandated

to make sure all 11 year old students had been

immunized with a meningitis vaccine.

This was largely due to the hard work of

Marty and especially Jeri who went out there

after their only child's death to change the law

and make this vaccine mandatory instead of a choice.

It was just not enough for them to loose their child

to this dreaded disease without making his death

a cause. If you knew Robert, we was always looking

for a cause. His parents made his life, his death their cause.

Usually around the time of Robert's birthday and

the anniversary of his death I dream of him.

In my dreams he usually gives me some clue as to something

he wants me to do for his parents.

This is the first time I do not dream of him.

I choose to believe that is because he is on to

bigger and better things.

It's because his parents have done all the hard work

in his honor and now he says,

"Your work is done. Rest, enjoy your life and

I will see you when your return here,

to the place some call heaven and that I now call home."