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Al Oskvig

Tuesday was my friend Paula's birthday. I have been in a group video message with her and  Jess for a few weeks. We send messages almost daily. Both Jess and I sent Paul good morning happy birthday messages.  Not long after, my mom called to let me know, Paul's dad had been found, he committed suicide in the night. So devastating. Her brother Grant's birthday was the next day. Al Oskvig lived just around the section from our family only a few miles away my whole childhood. Paula and I were friends from littles. We were playmates, childhood friends, rode the bus together, did ballet lessons together, played sports together, and had many sleepovers. Al and Gina divorced sometime after Paula graduated. Al had been a huge race fan dedicating much of his life to working in the race pits. Around 14 years ago, he was in a terrible accident. While in the pits, a car wrecked out of control and struck Al. After surgeries and therapy, broken bones and more, he recovered but the health problems followed his whole life.
He was given a hat that I remember he wore often, it was the Snow White character, "Grumpy". Al was a grumpy guy, but those that knew him, he had a funny side and kindness about him.
The last time I saw Al was one year ago to the very day on Paula's birthday while attending the visitation of her Grandfather and she had been to a memorial of her grandmother. A year ago she lost both a grandmother and grandfather and on this year on the same date, her father.  Grant had been planting all day with his dad. That night they finished corn and talked about the beans they would plant the next day. Al gave no indication of his plan. My brother Wade is very close to Al, being a neighbor, race fan, on boards and committees together, and a good friend. He saw Al often. He met him for lunch weekly and saw and spoke to Al just a couple days before. It's so sad. Nobody will ever know why. Suicide is taking the easy way out of your problems. Choosing when your life is over and not allowing God to. It leaves behind so many heartbroken people without answers, with guilt, confusion, anger, and sadness. Suicide is such a hard thing to heal from. I will be praying for Paula and Grant much.
I had a really old photo of Paula sitting on her Dad's lap from one of our old photo albums. Our families went to Adventureland together. I am sending Paula a copy. I hope it will be a happy memory.

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