Thank you to 'khunter' for the beautiful post above about the young man with Stage 4 cancer. On this Thanksgiving morning I am sitting here with tears of joy and gratitude pouring non-stop for so many things in my life, and really missing my Dad and my brother. I just shared your story with my 86 yr old Mom, Kathryn Miller. My brother, Chip and I grew up in Jax. Chip was a Southern Rock drummer, extraordinaire! He passed in 2005 from liver cancer. My father was very active with both Jax Sheriff's Dept and Florida Highway Patrol. One day, back in or around 1986, I think, my parents went to a Police Auction. They bought a beautiful red guitar, for $30. Even though my brother was a drummer they knew Chip would know someone to give it to and felt it was worth the money! In those days, $30 was a lot! That guitar was recently, along with many others, in The Folio newspaper in Jax, which featured Derek on the cover, with an awesome story about who he is and his music. I loved the article and seeing that red guitar among his treasures and so did Mom.
Four days after Chip passed Derek was in our home, with his children and his father. Mom shared the Police Auction story with Derek-which he said didn't remember hearing how Chip had gotten the guitar originally. Chip's memorial was scheduled for the next day and Derek was to leave for Nashville to do some recording. He turned to his Dad, and gently said, 'we need to change my flight' and then looked back at me and said, "I'll be there", and he was.
I cherish the memories of the days when my own son, Brian, now a touring Systems Engineer with Clair Brothers, and Derek were running around Ward's Landing, Jax Beach, and Sloppy Joe's when Chip's bands were playing..... just being kids.
Today, mother and I are grateful to know that those 'kids' have turned into loving, caring human beings who do more than make great music. They make a difference in the world through the light in their hearts! Happy Thanksgiving Derek, Susan and the entire Trucks clan. This was an amazing way to start my Thanksgiving morning.
When I read this post to Mom I could barely get through it. She softly said how wonderful it was Derek and that young man's nurse were able to do that for that for him. Then in a voice that was barely audible she said, 'I guess in some way, your brother had a part in that too I suppose since he gave Derek one of his first guitars'. I gently reminded her...."Mom, so did you". After a moment of silence she said, 'yes, I guess I did'. Touching lives, changing the world, making a difference one human being at a time. We are all connected, heart to heart.....with much love, and Happy Thanksgiving to you all! Treasure the moments that truly matter. I am always..........

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Chip's sis!