It is very hard to write what the legacy is of a life that has been cut so short.  Zach had so many loves and so many concerns.  From the time he was a little boy, he always had a mind of his own.  He wanted to do things his own way.  He loved to build things and then knock them down.  He loved to be outside and he loved to ride his bike or his scooter.  He also always loved the girls.  When he was a very small boy, he would ask me how to talk to a girl that he liked.  That never changed.  He always cared deeply for his friends and wanted to be there for them and help them.  He had very high expectations for himself and everyone around him.  He was a perfectionist with a spotless room.  As he got older, he developed a love for science and science fiction.  He was also quite artistic and would draw very intricate and detailed drawings.  He found he had a bit of a green thumb and enjoyed growing plants.  He was intrigued by bonsai trees and rock gardens. For many years he wanted to be a scientist and was always coming up with ideas for very futuristic inventions.  Then he decided he wanted to be a writer.  He amazed us all with the amount that he would write and the talent he showed in this area.  He kept saying that he was going to be published and make a million dollars to take care of all of us. Zach had so much potential and was so bright.  He understood scientific concepts better than most adults and loved to get into conversations about genetics, cryogenics, space travel, and various ways to save the Earth through new energy sources.
    Zach was also filled with concerns and worries.  He had a hard time believing that others would like him.  He often felt left out and unappreciated by his peers.  He would become depressed and sad.  This sometimes even manifested itself in physical pain (headaches).  He was being treated for this depression and we really believed he was doing okay.  He had several wonderful friends and a family that really loved him.  Sometimes the confussion of depression overwhelms people.  Please let his number one legacy be: If you feel overwhelmed, seek help.  Remember, life has its ups and downs, but it is a gift and every tomorrow has great potential.
     So what else should Zach's legacy be? Well, as his mother, I hope that he has touched many lives.  I hope that many people have become more sensitive, empathetic and understanding of others.  I hope that his friends have grown and learned from his life and from his death. "What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others."  "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."  May all of you live life to the fullest and appreciate the gift of life that you have been given.  May you be as kind and helpful as you can be.  "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow!"

"Are you almost disgusted with life, little man?
I'll tell you a wonderful trick
that will bring you contentment, if anything can,
Do something for somebody, quick!

Are you awfully tired, with play, little girl?
Wearied, discouraged, and sick--
I'll tell you the loveliest game in the world,
Do something for somebody quick!

Though it rains like the rain of floods, little man
And the clouds are forbidding and thick,
You can make the sun shine in your soul, little man
Do something for somebody, quick!

Though the stars are like brass overhead, little girl,
And the walks like well-heated brick
And our earthly affairs in a terrible whirl,
Do something for somebody, quick!"