Working weekends is a routine part of working in a park. Sunday mornings can sometimes be a quiet time before visitors start showing up for an outing in the afternoon. This is the time to catch your breath from a busy Saturday and enjoy the quiet calm of nature – a pure treasure for those working in a park – a perk of the job. Randy began working for me at Gorges State Park by working on his Eagle Scout project. He completed a horse access area at the park. He and I got along and worked well together. He quickly became like a kid brother to me. He was a kindred spirit. Of course, he did a wonderful job with his Eagle Scout project and so I offered him the opportunity to work that summer as a seasonal employee. It is a good job and a lot is asked of a seasonal, however, it only pays minimum wage and there are few benefits. Regardless, Randy was eager and ready to work. He did everything that was asked of him and then some. In an effort to look out for Randy and take him under my wing, I took him out into the park with me on Sunday mornings. Just as soon as we could get the all the morning ‘chores’ of opening the park done, we would head out – checking trails and looking for wildlife. One morning, we were driving through the middle of the park on a road not used very often. As usual, I was driving and Randy was talking, joking, and demonstrating his skill at sarcasm. As a law enforcement officer, I can fully appreciate and enjoy sarcasm and often laughed at Randy – just like a kid brother. Suddenly, I stopped my park truck in the road and Randy was silent. We had just come upon a mother bear and one cub crossing right in front of us! We were excited, thrilled and shocked at the sighting. We were paralyzed in a moment of awe…watching the two. Oddly enough, we were the first park staff to actually see black bear in the park. We would often see the sign of bear but not the actual bear. Randy and I couldn’t believe our luck of the sighting and that particular moment became our common/shared experience that was unique to us. After that summer, Randy went back to school and I went to work for the sheriff’s office. Every once in awhile over the years, we would run into each other and we always reminded the other one of the mother bear and cub we had seen. Randy also told me about joining the Marines. I know the danger of dedicating yourself to protecting others. And I know the honor in it. I was concerned for Randy but knew he had a heart big enough for the job. I recently returned back to the park and I often think of Randy. I am grateful…so profoundly grateful for our last chance meeting…about 3 weeks before his death. I don’t know how I got so blessed…I didn’t know it at the time. Our meeting was under unfortunate circumstances. I talked to Randy about it. I told him that if he ever needed anything, he could call me. He then told me that working at the park with me was one of the best things he’s done. He told me that he loved the park. I told him that I often think of him (for someone that works with young people, as I often do, I can’t help but wonder how the kids are and if I do makes a difference) and hope that he is doing ok. I also told him that I really enjoyed working with him – I told him he did a great job. Randy and I continued to sit quietly next to each other for a few more minutes. I could’ve left quite a while ago but he was in a serious situation and, he was still my kid brother, I didn’t want to leave right away. In an effort to make me smile, he reminded me of the mother bear and cub. And then he smiled, that Randy Buford/kid brother kind of smile and I couldn’t help myself…I smiled and chuckled…even though the circumstance was heavy(it’s just like Randy to lighten the mood). I felt he would be ok and I knew I had to get up and leave him. He wasn’t 16 anymore. He was 21, a soldier – he could stand on his own. I wished him luck and reminded him to call me if he ever needed to…He gave me his cell phone number and I sent him a text, “Its Ranger Smith. Next time, call someone :-/ Be careful, smart and safe.” That was the last time I saw Randy. When I heard the news of Randy’s passing, I was so shocked that it took awhile for it to sink in. I kept thinking that I had just seen him and we had talked about how great our time was together….yes…I was blessed, we were able to tell each other about it…and we recalled our sighting of the mother bear and her cub. Thank you Randy. Maybe I made a difference in your life…I know you made a difference in mine.