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Remembering Kaelan A. Palmer Paton...Thinking KAPP, Staying Strong With His Song

on Thu, 06/11/2020 - 03:11
With more concerns to face as a community, let's remember all we've pulled through with courage and care. Many thanks to the steadfast hard work of those in the rescue teams, firefighters and earnest police as well.
 
There is a lot more to what transpired when Kaelan passed (and I wrote over the years online, Remembering Kaelan Alexander Palmer Paton....)
 
More people are seeing the connections between systemic and even local shortcomings or 'breaks in the systems' as well as the need for more voluntary networking and support for people to have the basics and to be accountable.
 
Let's keep safety in mind as everyone is 'officially' out of school and exploring ways to quasi-normalize socializing and enjoying summer.
 
This year of 2020 was one many hoped would be a time of 'new vision, promise and energy to advocate for sustainability.' There are silver linings to the tragedies that have befallen families and communities that are in the spotlight and have been so in the past.
 
We are getting clear and renewed conviction to create the world and ways to live that we desire deeply...no excuses, no more delays... and a new day is dawning...
 
Thanks again for everyone pulling through whatever struggles, set-backs and even losses from our family and friends, community and country circles... to honor their legacies and encourage one another to stay strong and go long... HugEnergy.... This is a key time for beginning anew...
 
Here is Kaelan's Song ...

Song for Kaelan Paton (1-6-1993 to 6-16-2009)-- by Catherine Palmer Paton, his mom on 6-16-2011

Here's to our Kaelan Alexander Palmer Paton
Who acted without hesitation
To do all he could to save each friend
Even if that would mean his end.

After school their group headed to the river
Trusting all to the life giver
To keep them safe as they jumped and swam
Celebrating summer and ways to win.

Yet whitewater trapped three boys.
Kaelan hand-signalled "9-1-1" amidst loud noise.
Kaelan saved John and Richie by reaching out a hand,
Skillfully and bravely while barely on land.

But to save the third he'd have to go farther,
Testing his power like his daring father.
Kaelan gave his all to save the day,
Fighting to get Frankie out of the water.

Yet the two suddenly went under,
near the falls of fury and thunder.
Somehow Frankie came back up above,
yet Kaelan was guided to a new realm of love.

Then on a rope Skip came like an angel,
Putting a halo around Frankie who was fragile.
Swept apart briefly by rushing waters,
Skip then lifted Frankie up, losing no others.

Though the chances were bleak,
Folks searched for Kaelan for a week.
Then a trainman spotted the teen hero
near the Covered Bridge,
A place he loved and with a message to give:

Life is like a bridge to gently cross
Between birth and death we all feel loss.
But the gift of love is ours to give,
In how we die and how we live.

You're beautiful like a sparking jewel.
Treating folks well is a magical tool.
Use your words to help put down the swords
Walk in peace and courage with honest words.

A new day dawns every morning.
Mortal life can end without warning.
Yet our love and spirit may move up and out,
Healing and helping many as our final shout.

Kaelan's love is growing stronger
From a realm in which we linger longer
Still one day we will close our eyes to all we've been part of
To join in with the love that comes from above.