Rest In Peace, friend

I didn't think I knew anyone who was injured, killed or even greatly affected by Hurricane Rita. There was a somewhat tenuous connection between me and the 20 or so elderly evacuees who died in a bus fire, near Dallas, as they escaped the storm (the brother-in-law of a close friend lost in father in that incident).

Today, I found out that a close acquaintence, and former business associate, of mine was killed, along with two other family members, in an auto accident as they returned to Houston last Sunday.

Michael Alexander, his son Omar and daughter Amal were killed when a tire blew-out on I-45 near Madisonville, Texas. His wife, Rima, and eldest daughter, Dawlat, survived the accident.

Mike was a good guy. He had a very easy going manner, and was a bit talkative at times. I believe he was born in Egypt, but he worked in Houston as an accountant. That was how I met him.

My former boss hired Mike - a close friend of his - as the accountant for a restaurant where I was employed as the office manager and accounts payable person. We developed somewhat of a friendship working together in this capacity. The last time I visited with him, on a trip back to Houston earlier this summer, we spent about two hours just talking (and figuring out my late taxes).

It saddens me to know that Mike is no longer with us. It saddens me more that his wife, whom I met twice, is without a husband and their eldest daughter with out a father. They will both be in my prayers and thoughts as they recover, not only from their physical injuries, but from the emotional loss as well.

Rest in peace, my friend.