The Nest

Our Best Man Died

Posted Tuesday, July 01, 2008 8:40 PM

Matt's best friend, and Best Man, died yesterday.  He was a family man, married with three kids, and was 27 years old.  He was burning some trash (they live in the country, out in Louisiana), and a flash flame exploded in his face.  He called the paramedics and jumped in the shower.  Everyone thought he was fine.  He went to bed complaining of a sore throat.

What we think happened (but hasn't been confirmed yet) is that his lungs got burnt.  During the night, his lungs swelled up and cut off his airway.  He died in his sleep.

Matt is heartbroken, but trying to take it like a man.  I keep thinking about his poor kids and especially his wife.  She's all alone now.  The boys were planning on flying him out to Las Vegas a week before the wedding so they could hang out together.  Then Timmy (BM) was going to drive down to the wedding with us a few days before so the boys could do the whole bachelor thing.  Now, that whole week Matt will be thinking of his best friend not being with us.  The bachelor party is really going to suck.  I know Timmy was really excited about throwing a bachelor party for Matt.

I don't know what Matt will do about getting a new Best Man or maybe just having an empty spot there.  I haven't asked him about it yet, but whatever he decides to do is fine by me.  I can't believe this happened.  He was so young, and it's such a freak accident.  My fiance lost his best friend.

Girls, make sure you have life insurance on your man.  Especially if you have children.  I have insurance on Matt that I bought from his bank.  We pay about $50 a year or so (they take a couple bucks out of his account every few months) and if he dies or gets dismembered I get $20,000.  You never know what may happen.