729 days ago, I spoke to my son Scott for what I would have never imagined to be the very last time. The last time I would hear him say “Hey mom, just checkin’ in… how was your day?”. The last time I would hear him tell me that he was going home to take his dog Murphy (more like his son) out for a run. The last time I would remind him to call his grandmother for Valentine’s Day. The last time I would share with him what I planned for his sister Melissa’s birthday – Valentine’s Day. You see for me February 14h is the best day of my life and the worst day of my life.
Don’t let anyone tell you that it gets better or easier with time — It does not. I continue to say that I will not mourn Scott’s death but instead, I will celebrate his life. Easy to say and text but let me tell you — some days not so easy to do.
In your honor Scott: I will continue to fight with every part of my being to get reasonable gun safety legislation passed Federally. I do believe that we all have a right to be safe. I do believe that you are with me every step of the way. As you know, I take you with me whenever and wherever I get the opportunity to share my story — or should I say, “share my life”.
In your honor Scott: I will continue the Scott J. Beigel Memorial Fund which has become a tremendous part of my life and a huge challenge. By now, anyone who knows about you knows how important camp and children were in your life. Sending underprivileged children touched by gun violence to summer camp has become my way of totally celebrating your life.
So, let me take this day….. today ….. day 729 to thank anyone reading this, for your support, caring, kindness and love. I could not get to where I am today without you – honest! Please continue to stand beside me so we can go forward together.
Linda Beigel Schulman and Michael Schulman are residents of Dix Hills and the parents of Scott, a teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., one of 17 killed on Feb. 14, 2018. She posted this Thursday on Facebook. Republished with permission.