When a friend passes away...

I found out a friend from Georgia passed away yesterday. While out on the job, he died of a heart attack. We weren't close friends, in fact, I haven't seen or spoken to Mike since I left Georgia in 2005. I found when I was in Georgia that not having family close by, you became family with those around you.
Many guys on the concrete crew traveled to work for this company and we got to know each other when I worked my 2nd shift with the company in the evenings. Mike was like a father to many of us that worked with him and he took to Lexi like a grandfather. He would sit with her and listen to her talk about school, advised her to "put some shellac on it" when her pumpkin started to rot (yeah, I had to ask what the heck shellac was), and when she complained of having high waters, he handed her a $20 and told her to make me take her to "buy some new britches".

He always had time to listen when I had a problem or question about the paperwork I was working with and when he made a smart alec remark and winked at you, his blue eyes twinkled with laughter. I think of him and other members of that crew often, and how they made working the evening shift bearable.

I was told the news through a friend on facebook and I googled his name for a death notice. When I saw his picture I just started crying. It's always sad to me when someone passes suddenly but he was only 57 and a great friend and help to me when I was feeling pretty alone in the world.

RIP Mike LeDet...