For Jamie Hubley

     For those of you who still remember him either from life or in the news, today was the fourth anniversary of the suicide of Jamie Hubley. From the time I first heard of it, I thought this song, Far Behind, was the perfect song to commemorate both his legacy and the pain that marred and, ultimately, cost him his life. It was originally written and produced by Candlebox to honor Mother Love Bone's late front man Andy Wood but in my mind this will always be Jamie's song.
     To give you an idea of how fiercely I honor this brave kid's memory, the December after he killed himself, some people in his native Ottawa had produced some memorial bracelets and sold them in packs of five, with the proceeds going to Ottawa youth who are at risk of being bullied, especially for their sexual orientation. I bought mine that month and since the day they arrived in 2011, I put one on my left wrist and have never removed it for even a nanosecond. In my mind, to do so would be to dishonor Jamie's memory.
     I intend to be buried with it when my own time comes.