For the reception following Nick's funeral, Karen's friend Rick put together a fantastic video of still photos,  videotapes of Nick, family and friends and music that was special to Nick and to us. It was a fantastic video that really captured the fun Nick had in life and what a quality person he is.  Rick put the video together in 4 short days and spent very long hours to get it done.  Thank you Rick.  It is priceless.... We will cherish it always. The following are the songs from the video.  You can listen to them by clicking on the links at the beginning of each set of lyrics.

Beautiful Boy - John Lennon
Your Life Is Now - John Mellencamp
The Impression That I Get - Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Forever Young - Bob Dylan
Stay You - Wood
Running On Faith - Eric Clapton
5 Years Plan (My Friends) - H2O
Bro Hymn - Pennywise
Tears In Heaven - Eric Clapton
The End - The Beatles

The video begins with John Lennon's Beautiful Boy... while still and video images of Nick as a baby and toddler fill the screen.  This song was originally released at almost exactly the time of Nick's birth in January of 1981 and Nick's parents are sure this song was written for our Nick.  :)    This song has always been special to Karen and I.  A copy of the originally released single still resides in Nick's baby book.

Listen to "Beautiful Boy"

Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)
John Lennon

Close your eyes
Have no fear
The monster's gone
He's on the run and your daddy's here
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy

Before you go to sleep
Say a little prayer
Every day in every way
It's getting better and better
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy

Out on the ocean sailing away
I can hardly wait
To see you come of age
But I guess we'll both just have to be patient
'Cause it's a long way to go
A hard row to hoe
Yes it's a long way to go
But in the meantime

Before you cross the street
Take my hand
Life is what happens to you
While you're busy making other plans
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy

Before you go to sleep
Say a little prayer
Every day in every way
It's getting better and better
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Darling, darling, darling
Darling Sean (Nicholas)

From Nick's Journal....On tough times spent in the hospital...

“The concept of time keeps leaving me when I am having my hardest times.  I think that it’s good that I don’t realize how much important time I had lost.  Time is non refundable and always should be used to its fullest.”

Your Life Is Now
John Mellencamp

See the moon roll across the stars
See the seasons turn like a heart
Your father's days are lost to you
This is your time here to do what you will do

Your life is now,  your life is now,  your life is now

In this undiscovered moment
Lift your head up above the crowd
We could shake this world
If you would only show us how
Your life is now

Would you teach your children to tell the truth
Would you take the high road if you could choose
Do you believe you're a victim of a great compromise
'Cause I believe you could change your mind and change our lives

Your life is now,  your life is now, your life is now

In this undiscovered moment
Lift your head up above the crowd
We could shake this world
If you would only show us how
Your life is now

Would you teach your children to tell the truth
This is your time here to do what you will do

(repeat chorus twice)

Listen to "The Impression That I Get"

The Impression That I Get:
Mighty Mighty Bosstones

Have you ever been close to tragedy?
Or been close to folks who have?
Have you ever felt the pain so powerful, so heavy you collapse?
I've never had to knock on wood, but I know someone who has.
Which makes me wonder if I could.
It makes me wonder if I've never had to knock on wood.
And I'm glad I haven't yet because I'm sure it isn't good,
That's the impression that I get.

Have you ever felt the odds stacked up so high,
you need a strength most don't possess?
Or has it come down to do or die?
You've got to rise above the rest.
I've never had to knock on wood, but I know someone who has.
It makes me wonder if I could.
It makes me wonder if I've never had to knock on wood.
And I'm glad I haven't yet, because I'm sure it isn't good.
That's the impression that I get.

I'm not a coward, I've just never been tested.
I'd like to think that if I was I would pass.
Look at the tested, and think there but for the grace go I.
Might be a coward, I'm afraid of what I might find out.
I've never had to knock on wood, but I know someone who has.
Which makes me wonder if I could.
It makes me wonder if I've never had to knock on wood.
And I'm glad I haven't yet because I'm sure it isn't good.
That's the impression that I get.

Never have, I'd better knock on wood.  'Cause I know someone who has.
Wonder if I could, it makes me wonder if I've never had to.
I'd better knock on wood 'cause I'm sure it isn't good.
And I'm glad I haven't yet,
that's the impression that I get.
 

Forever Young
Bob Dylan

May God bless and keep you always,
May your wishes all come true,
May you always do for others
And let others do for you.
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous,
May you grow up to be true,
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you.
May you always be courageous,
Stand upright and be strong,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy,
May your feet always be swift,
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift.
May your heart always be joyful,
May your song always be sung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

This next song became special to our family on the night of Nick's bone marrow transplant.  Karen had heard this song and gave it to Nick in an open letter to Nick published on this website on the night of his transplant.  This song was dedicated to Nick's rebirth... his second chance at life.

Listen to "Stay You"

Stay You
Performed by Wood

I love the way you speak
And I love the way you swear
I love the way you walk around with your head held in the air
I love the way your words move
And I love the way you drive
I love the way you scare people, scared to be alive

Stay
Stay you
That's the toughest thing to do

I love the way you dress upon a Saturday night
I love the way you never speak until it feels just right
I love the way you're spending all your money on yourself
I love the way you answer the phone and pretend you're somebody else

Stay
Stay you
That's the toughest thing to do

And now I don't want to talk about the things you overcame
By dragging up the past I'll put you through it all again
I've got the greatest admiration for the way that you got through it
Couldn't ask nobody else to do it better than you do it

Stay
Stay you
That's the toughest thing to do

Listen to "`Running On Faith"

Running On Faith
Jerry Lynn Williams

Lately I've been running on faith
What else can a poor boy do?
But my world will be right
When love comes over you

Lately I've been talking in my sleep
I can't imagine what I'd have to say
Except my world will be right
When love comes back your way

  I've always been
  One to take each and every day
  Seems like by now
  I'd find a love who cares just for me

Then we'd go running on faith
All of our dreams would come true
And our world will be right
When love comes over me and you

  Chorus

Then we'd go running on faith
All of our dreams would come true
And our world will be right
When love comes over me and you
When love comes over you

Listen to "Bro Hymn"

Bro Hymn
Pennywise

To all my friends present past and beyond
especially those who weren't with us too long
life is the most precious thing you can lose

while you were here fun was never ending
laugh a minute only the beginning
canton, colvin, nicholas,
this one's for you

ever get the feeling you can't go on
just remember whose side it is that you're on
you've got friends with you 'till the end

if you're ever in a tough situation
we'll be there with no hesitation
brotherhood's our rule that cannot bend

when you're feeling too close to the bottom
you know who it is you can count on
someone will pick you up again

we can conquer anything together
all of us are bonded forever
if you die I die that's the way it is

Listen to "Tears In Heaven"

Tears In Heaven
Eric Clapton

Would you know my name if I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same if I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong and carry on,
'Cause I know I don't belong here in heaven.

Would you hold my hand if I saw you in heaven?
Would you help me stand if I saw you in heaven?
I'll find my way through night and day,
'Cause I know I just can't stay here in heaven.

Time can bring you down, time can bend your knees.
Time can break your heart, have you begging please, begging please.

Beyond the door there's peace I'm sure,
And I know there'll be no more tears in heaven.

Would you know my name if I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same if I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong and carry on,
'Cause I know I don't belong here in heaven.

The End
The Beatles

And in the end
The love you take
Is equal to
The love you make