Some stories are difficult to write because there are simply no words that can make sense of them. The tragic loss of 17-year-old Mason Gomes in an accident on July 3 is one of those stories.
Last Thursday, his family gathered with friends, neighbors and a community that has embraced them to celebrate his life—not because the grief has lessened, but because a life, no matter how brief, deserves to be remembered.
As a publisher/reporter, I often write about events that bring our communities together in celebration. This time, we came together for a different reason: to stand beside a family carrying the unimaginable burden of saying goodbye to a son, brother, boyfriend and friend and to be reminded that in the face of life’s greatest heartbreaks, the greatest gift we can offer one another is simply our presence.
Last Thursday, July 9, I had the privilege—and the heartbreak—of attending a celebration of life for Mason. About 200 people gathered on the blacktop at Cerra Vista Elementary School where Mason attended.
As I looked around, I wasn’t struck first by the sadness. I was struck by the love.
There were classmates, teammates, teachers, neighbors, relatives and family friends. Young and old. Some laughed as they shared stories that could only be told through tears.
Others simply hugged one another, unable to find words. In that room, it became clear that a life is not measured by the number of years we are given, but by the number of lives we touch.
Sunnyslope Christian Center Pastor Joe Luevano opened the ceremony by thanking everyone for coming out to honor Mason.
“The reason we mourn is because of the love we have,” he told the crowd. “Mason was a light in this life that will never go out.”
Mason’s girlfriend Ayla recalled his generosity, Anzar High School football coach Rudy Abeyta recalled his smile, and his twin brother Landon recalled spending that final Friday with him.
“I couldn’t ask for a better last day with Mason,” he said. “I just wish it wasn’t the last day.”
My wife and I met the Gomes family two days after the accident. We saw the memorial around the corner from our home and realized they were neighbors. Although we never met them, they embraced us, welcomed us and were thankful for our presence.
While no words can ease such an unimaginable loss, moments like these remind us of the strength of community, the importance of showing up for one another, and the lasting impact a young life can have in just 17 years.
Leaving the celebration, I found myself thinking less about the tragedy and more about the lesson. Life is precious, and it is unpredictable. The phone call we expect tomorrow may come today. The hug we planned to give next week should probably happen now.
The words “I love you” should never be left unsaid.
May his family find comfort in knowing they do not grieve alone. And may the rest of us honor his memory by holding our loved ones a little closer, extending a little more grace and never taking for granted the gift of another ordinary day.
Sometimes the greatest measure of a community isn’t how loudly it celebrates life’s happiest moments. It’s how faithfully it stands beside those whose hearts are broken.
