In the great green room
there was a telephone
And a red balloon
And a picture of —
The cow jumping over the moon
and there were three little bears, sitting on chairs
and two little kittens and a pair of mittens
and a little toy house and a young mouse
and a comb and a brush and bowl full of mush
and a quiet old lady who was whispering “hush”
Goodnight room
goodnight moon
goodnight cow jumping over the moon
goodnight light and the red balloon
goodnight bears goodnight chairs
goodnight kittens goodnight mittens
goodnight clocks and goodnight socks
goodnight little house and goodnight mouse
goodnight comb and goodnight brush
goodnight nobody goodnight mush
and goodnight to the old lady whispering “hush”
goodnight stars, goodnight air
goodnight noises everywhere.
Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown (Alex and my favorite bedtime story to read to his brother Evan when he was young)
How do you pay tribute to 25 years of life in just a few short words?
Alexander Joseph Edge was born December 4, 1983 in Pasadena, CA. From a very young age, Alex loved people. Alex had friends of all ages, and from all walks of life. It was rare for us to go out as a family and not run into one or more of Alex’s friends. His closest friends hosted a memorial in town, and approximately 150 people were in attendance. Friends (and parents) that he’d gone to middle school / high school with came to show their respect and share their favorite memory of Alex. He was a good friend, and whether it was making a car repair or offering a shoulder to cry on (and anything in between), there wasn’t much Alex wouldn’t do for his friends.
He spoke his first sentence (skipped right past the usual first words) at an early age and never looked back. Anyone who knew Alex also knew he loved to talk …
And talk he did! Alex was passionate about all he was interested in. Alex loved to read, and his ability to read quickly astonished those around him. He carried his early love of Louis L’amour novels with him throughout his life He was an expert in Middle Eastern political and social issues, and active in various humanitarian efforts, including Free Tibet.
After high school, he was employed as a CNC machinist. He spent his free time building and driving his “baby”, a Honda Civic. He was a respected contributor to the Honda Tech threads, and could often be found at the races either driving his own Honda or working together with a friend.
Alex had a life-long love of motorcycle riding, and was expert both on-road and off-road. Alex also developed a passionate love of photography and bicycle riding.
He began working for MotorcycleDaily.com in his early 20s and contributed both as a journalist and a photographer. His writings have also been published in print in Europe (in both Spanish and English).
As some of you knew (and most of you did not), Alex fought a battle with addiction, and it is to this addiction that he ultimately lost his life on July 27, 2009. The worst of our pain as parents has largely been felt as we too fought with Alex, and alongside Alex. It is our family’s hope that by acknowledging Alex’s struggle with addiction, that something positive can come from our loss. “Just say no” are empty words; the threat from prescription drug abuse is real and widespread. Educate yourself and your loved ones … remember that there is always a choice to be made; but for many if the wrong choice is made, then the chance to choose is forever lost and replaced by a cruel struggle. While Alex lost that battle, it is our belief that he is now at peace.
If you can, remember Alex for the vibrant, enthusiastic, caring and compassionate individual he was, and carry some of that with you in life.
Good night moon . . . good night Alex