Eighteen Today

 You would be eighteen today
A very important day for a young man 

It seems like only yesterday
I bounced you on my knee
With dreams about the future and
What you were going to be 

You were so bright and happy
Such a precious little boy
Strangers always knew your name
And stopped to say “Hello” 

It wasn't supposed to be this way
Roger, why did this happen to you?
I think of all the things you would have done
And all the things you still had left to do 

Your day of birth and funeral
Turned out by chance the same
And so each year when it comes around
I want someone to blame 

I guess it's finally hit me
What forever really means
That no amount of wishing
Is going to bring you back to me 

As time goes on and my life passes by
And I never find the answer to the question "Why?"
I know I will never receive my one last wish
And forever my lips will feel that last cold kiss 

Happy birthday Roger, I love you, now and forever...

Roger Steven Pate, II
March 20, 1986 - March 17, 2002

This day is the anniversary
of that hurtful day.

All we have are wonderful
memories of Roger.

Remember him... In your hearts, your thoughts and your dreams of the times we loved, the times we cried, the times we fought and the times we laughed.

Always in our hearts...

If you would like to send him a message or have any memories and/or stories about Roger and would like to share them, please e-mail them to mail@rogerpate.com

Just two years ago

 We lost you just two years ago
Our hearts are still filled with sorrow 

To some you are forgotten
To others your memory has past
But to us who loved and lost you
Your memory will always last 

So many questions flood our minds
"What if, and Why and How?"
If we had done things differently
Would you still be with us now? 

A life so short and unfulfilled
With so much left to go
"Why, oh why?" we ask ourselves
When we all loved you so 

No fear, no pain or sorrow
Can touch you anymore
But the love you've left behind
Will live with us forever more 

If love alone could have saved him
He never would have died.