Saying Goodbye to Logan

I know it's been a while since I've actually posted my thoughts or shared one of our many adventures and it's not that I don't have anything to talk about, believe me, it's just that every time I start typing, my thought all flow together, until one story comes to the forefront. I've tried not to share this with the blog world, not because it's not important, but just because I feel this story is personal, emotional, and somewhat intense. But I feel like I'm going to have writers block until I let it flow out of me, so here it goes...

Before the world was saying goodbye to Farrah or mourning Michael, we were trying to come to terms with the sudden loss of Logan. On June 20th, Logan a precious 8 year old racing phenom lost his life in a tragic accident.

Ethan had raced with Logan for a few years. When we started going to the track we really didn't know too many people, but Logan's family was great. They really had that "Everyone's more then welcome" attitude. There was no "front", if you will, from any of them; it was "you get what you see." Ronnie and Logan's Dad, Rocky, would talk about bikes and the boys riding, while Ethan and Logan played. Even though Logan was younger then Ethan, he progressed faster, he was an awesome rider, born to ride, race, and fly, it was hard to believe he was only 8. From what I've witnessed myself, and the stories I've heard, he was destined for greatness. But on the night of June 20th his life was cut short, doing what he loved, racing.

The racing community has been devastated by this sudden loss of not just a natural rider, but a fabulous kid. He was polite and generous, humble: I never witnessed him being boastful or bragging. He would take 1st in a race, and when the other kids, not knowing Logan had won, would come and tell him they came in 3rd or 4th, he wouldn't say he won, he'd tell them how awesome they did.

When Logan died and the news shared the story, I was shocked at the ignorance of the comments from so many. I couldn't believe without knowing him or his family they could spew so much hatred and nonsense. It literally made me sick. I won't waste my time repeating any of their idiocy, but since this is my blog, i will take this time to defend my opinion. Logan loved racing, he was always eager to get out there on the track. Even when he was playing between moto's the talk always turned to racing, jumping, berms, and tricks. They'd build little hills to jump the peddle bikes, or little race tracks to play with their toy dirt bikes on. Yes, this was a hobby he seemed to inherit from his father, but not because it was pushed on him, but because it's only natural for children to become interested in the hobbies their parents are involved in and activities they are raised around. His parents, from what I observed over the years, were supporters of the greatest kind. When Logan raced, you knew where each of his family members were; Rocky would be on the track with him, just in case there was a wreck, BeLinda, his Mom, would be somewhere in the stands, with a great view and her camcorder, and his Sister Tosha, would be standing, usually on the west end of the track, with her camera, taking amazing still shots of her little brother in all his glory.

For those of you who think this sport is too dangerous for kids, I understand, it is a scary, for those who aren't involved. We as parents take every precaution possible to keep them safe, we spend a lot of money on safety equipment: helmet, chest protector, neck guard, glasses, shin guards, riding boots, gloves, you name it, we buy something to protect it. These are our kids out there for heavens sake! We don't push them to race when they are tired or hurt, in fact most of us won't let our kids on the track when they are tired or hurt.

Yes, accidents happen. And things sometimes go horribly wrong. But we can't put our kids in bubbles, we can't be overprotective, we can't let them live life without really living, what's the point in that? We could let them play a "safe" sport and be miserable, and then they could get hit by a car in the parking lot. And all your memories will be of them moping around, playing a sport they hated, never being happy. Or we can let them experience it all, choose for themselves, and keep them as protected as we can.

Ethan has tried a lot of sports, but he loves riding and racing. I could take that away from him because of this accident, but I'm not going to. I'm going to take a deep breathe, be the grown up, make sure all his safety gear is on properly every time he rides, I'm going to watch his eyes light up as he gets his bike started, and I'm going to have plenty of memories of his happy face, enjoying his life. And yes, if Sophia chooses to ride one day, we'll let her.

Even though Logan died while racing, his parents don't blame the sport, they know it was an accident. They did a very brave thing when Logan passed away, they choose to donate his organs to save others, that's a very wonderful thing, giving others life, and I truly admire and thank them for that. I hope the Emerson's know that they will forever be in our hearts, as will Logan.

This is a picture of probably one of the first races Ethan and Logan were in together, Ethan is on the red bike, #8, Logan is on the yellow bike, #81.

Logan Emerson
8/3/2000~6/20/2009