There is a true jewel of a song on Springsteen's Devils & Dust collection. "Jesus Was An Only Son" tells the story of Mary's relationship with her only child, including in the moments leading up to his crucifixion. Even for a lapsed Catholic like Yours truly, the imagery is stunning. It is one of my favorite Springsteen songs.
He toured solo in support of Devils & Dust. I was fortunate enough to see him at least one half-dozen times on that particular tour. "Jesus Was An Only Son" was a tour staple. Playing it live, Springsteen interspersed the song's lyrics with his thoughts, including those about how as parents we do our level best from the moment of our child's birth to protect our child from the world's hardships, knowing as we do so that ours is indeed a fool's errand.
Jesus Was An Only Son (The Story)
We will prove to be no better able to protect our kids from life's harsh realities than our parents were at protecting us...our our children shall prove to be at protecting our grandchildren. Yet, in spite of knowing that our battle is a losing one, we fight it anyway. As parents, it simply is what we do.
It is a disturbance in the natural order of the universe when a child predeceases a parent. It is my fervent hope that it is a pain Margaret and I shall not have to endure and one that shall never darken the doors of Suzanne and Ryan's home of Jess and Rob's.
While 2020 is not yet to its halfway point (heck, we have not even reached summer's first day), two families I know have experienced just such a devastating, unfathomable loss.
Garrett Spada was a young man who I met only once or twice - a very long time ago. His mom, Susan, and I have been colleagues at the Firm for as long as I have worked there. She is a terrifically nice woman and an excellent attorney. Many years ago, when Garrett was still in grammar school, Susan brought him to work on "Bring Your Child to Work Day". He was very professionally-dressed (probably more so than I was) in a blue jacket, white shirt, tie, and charcoal slacks. He had a nice smile and a firm handshake. His mom beamed while introducing me to him. On March 9, 2020, Garrett Spada died. He was just twenty-six.
What feels now like a lifetime ago, I saw Mike Dessino on a regular basis. Mike wrestled at Middlesex High School between Margaret's two nephews, Joe and Frank, so as we attended dual meets and tournaments of all shapes and sizes, we watched Mike grow into a dominant wrestler, which he continued to be at the collegiate level for Bloomsburg University. What always struck me about him was the quiet manner in which he went about his business. No bragging. No boasting. He wrestled. He won (an overwhelming percentage of the time). He walked to the mat's center at match's end. He shook his opponent's hand. He walked off the mat. No drama. No "Hey look at me!" histrionics. Having had the pleasure of spending a considerable amount of time in the bleachers with his parents, Mike and Denise, I never had to guess from whom Mike inherited his quiet, "let the work speak for itself" demeanor. His apple fell not far at all from the parental tree.
Mike Dessino died on June 1, 2020 as a result of injuries he suffered in a horrific accident. He was twenty-nine. He and his bride, Katrina, were looking forward to their first anniversary in August and, thereafter, the birth of their first child in September.
...Now there's a loss that can never be replaced, a destination that can never be reached, a light you'll never find in another's face, a sea whose distance cannot be breached...
Jesus Was An Only Son (The Song)
-AK
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