William was a beautiful baby boy, born when his parents attended and lived at Houghton College. No baby ever had more babysitters. When a young boy interested in his toy action figures, he would become quite upset with me, his grandmother, because I didn’t know all the names of the figures, especially because I was always the bad guy figure when we played together. Then a little later on it was school and girlfriends.

He loved to draw and had one teacher in Lancaster, NY that recognized his talent and ability who praised and encouraged him. Then becoming an adult, and loving his guitar he wrote songs and after awhile even sang some of those songs. The songs were about things he thought about but wasn’t able to tell people. When I was resting he would play for me some of his songs and tell me why he wrote them.

He was searching for unconditional love, something he felt eluded him, even though he had it – like all of us do – but sometimes don’t know it or recognize it.

He now will be laid to rest in a grave located above his grandfather, although it’s not true, William always felt that grandpa was the only one who ever loved him unconditionally. May they now be together with the one true one that loves us all just for the asking and believing. May William finally rest in peace and love.

When my best friend told her brother that William had passed away, his comment was what did you expect. Which is what I am sure a lot of you are thinking, but as his Aunt I’d like to tell you what I wanted for Will, not what I expected. I wanted him to, through the grace of God, become clean and sober. I wanted him to find his soul mate, someone to share his life with like his sister and his brother had. I wanted him to continue his education with an online college because he was so intelligent and had a thirst for knowledge and loved to learn new things. I wanted Will to have his songs published so everyone could hear and feel what he felt and though some of his songs may have been dark and troubled he wrote songs from his heart. Just as his mother writes poetry that comes from her heart.

I wanted him to be a good father and provider for his children, and to be there when they needed him, with a wise word and a warm hug. I wanted him to be a support for his mother when his grandma passes on, and a comforter to his sister, because I know that he would have it in him to do this. William was a sensitive and compassionate person who got lost along the road of life. But God is not a judging God, he is merciful and patient and only God knew what to expect from this person we loved to call William James Muldoon himself.

I have a box, it’s just a box – just a piece of cardboard with some folds and glue – nothing special just a box.

Wrap it in paper it becomes surprise, slap a label and some postage on it and it becomes an international message.

What makes a box special is it’s contents, sprinkle it with imagination and it becomes a race car, a tank, a fort or even a He Man castle greyskull.

I have a box of memories. For twenty eight years I have done my best to love you, protect you, guide you and teach you.

In this box are pictures of Christmases, Birthdays, vacations and retreats, shared experiences, now treasures of my heart.

You have always had a knack for finding lost things. A simple walk through town ends in a pocket of things found. Tossed on the ground and lost along the way.

These lost things are some of the treasures that are now in my box. Some of my fondest memories are of you and your friends just hanging out at my house. Some of them too – you found lost along their way.

But everybody knows that if you are a kid who walks into the Muldoon’s house - sooner or later you become one of ours.

Every Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving, our house is filled. Thanks to Will and the lost boys.

Mary and I conceived and gave birth to three children but in our hearts and yours, (because you know who you are) we have more kids than I can count. You are my kids too.

So now I have a box – filled with my hearts treasures, but all I have left of my son is a box.

So to all my lost kids out there, don’t do this to your parents, don’t do this to your children. Love yourself enough to stop putting that poison in your veins or up your nose. You still have a choice don’t end up in a box!