A past friend of mine, Anthony Dumont, was shot and killed early this week over a dispute with a neighbor. I'd like to tell you a bit about him, what little I know, to commemorate his life.

I met my best friend Angie while working at Del Taco in Placerville seven years ago. She had a best friend named Nicole, who was dating Anthony at the time. Angie, Nicole, Anthony, Matt grew up together during the tough high school years. Nicole was with Anthony, from my knowledge, all throughout high school and a few years after. I met Angie and Nicole, Anthony and Matt after high school, and we hung out as a group often. Anthony was tall, dark and handsome. He was quiet and had a pretty smile. I didn't know him very well, but he was a gentleman to me. Once I visited his mother's house. His mother and I talked about our favorite Soap Opera characters, and later the whole gang spent the night at her home. I remember it being completely dark, and trying to find my way out of the bathroom. Anthony offered me his hand and guided me to safety.

Eventually Nicole and Anthony broke up. Sometimes relationships fizzle, it's normal. I always saw Anthony working over at Big Five Sporting Goods, in his collared shirt and dress tie. Sometimes we'd say "hey" to eachother. Like I said, we didn't know one another that well.

I was shocked when I heard of his death. The shooter was an ex-police officer from Burlingame county. I am going to follow the investigation as much as possible. I haven't been able to get ahold of Angie, but I heard she's taking it hard. She's very sensitive and emotional. I'm waiting to hear from her when she's ready. As for Nicole, I'm afraid to call her. No doubt Angie has called her to talk about it. I don't even know what to say to Nicole because I am not sure how she's taking it. She's been in a long term relationship with another man for a while now-a very nice man-so I just don't know how to handle it. I figure I should wait until some time has passed, and maybe they'll come around.

This whole incident puts fear into my heart. Gun violence is a terrible thing, and with the recent D.C. ruling to allow registration of handguns in homes…well, it's extremely unsettling. So I'm advocating anti-gun laws.

There have been several people, some friends, some unknown, who were very young when they died. One boy I knew in highschool killed himself-he was bi-polar. Another in jr. high battled life long depression (unbeknownst to me) and hung himself in a tree behind a building that is now a fancy restaurant not one minute from my home. I heard of a boy from high school who over dosed on drugs and died. I can't help but think of all these people, so young, who died, after hearing about Anthony. Is this normal? A decade or two ago, did people this young die all the time? How safe am I?

I have to make sure to be safe. If I am feeling depressed, I have to do something about it, tell someone. I don't want to end up like these kids. Anthony was 26-the same age as me. I'm sure you all remember Heath Ledger's death. He overdosed on sleeping pills and sedatives. Some of those same pills he overdosed on I take regularly. Now I have to constantly make sure I do not fall too deep into depression or addiction, because there really is a risk to this kind of prescription drug use. It's amazing how easy it is to remain ignorant or to just shrug things off. The things we do, the medicines we take, the lives we lead…we are so delicate.

Let us all be grateful for life and do everything in our power to keep living.

God Bless.

Lou