I Special Report

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OVER

Guardian Angels from page A17

Susie and Christopher, too, are over-
whelmed by the generosity, mostly from the
Jewish community, but also from neighbors
and Susie's clients. Just the other day, a cli-
ent dropped off a new outdoor trampoline
with safety netting for the kids.
"We're hesitant to accept so much help:'
Christopher said. "A lot of people need help
more than we do. We can make it."
Susie nodded in agreement. "We're sim-
ple people she said.

One Day At A Time
Despite all the support, the suddenness of
Rob's death has left friends and family reel-
ing.
"I'm ailing and hurting;' said Rob's father,
Al, who was very close to his son and spoke
with him several times a day. "I go to say
Kaddish for Rob every day. I've brought
Evan with me and told him every time he
goes his dad gets closer to heaven."
Rob's mother has a lot of anger. "I get up
in morning and the realization is there,'
Marti said. "To lose my son is unforgivable,
but who are you going to argue with?"

They maintain close contact with Susie.
Al picks Evan up at nearby Walnut Creek
Middle School most days after track prac-
tice, and he'll spend the night with Al and
Marti this week during spring break. They
take Emily to the mall. And sometimes on
"Aunt Sherry Night': they all come over to
watch a video.
At the Tarnas house, the kids know they
can be themselves and let their guard down.
Emily can't cry in front of people, but she
knows she can cry here. Evan can ask ques-
tions in a safe environment, even though
there are no good answers to the profound
question "Why didn't my dad survive?"
Surveying the new family dynamic, Susie
and Christopher smile and shrug their
shoulders. There are rough, emotional days,
but more are becoming like these — days
when the kids act like, well, normal siblings.
"They immediately fell into calling each
other siblings; they always thought that way
anyway," Susie said.
"Of course, it felt right — we're family,'
Emily said.
"It doesn't feel much different than it did

before,' Skyler said.
Evan dubbed the new arrangement a
successful failure,' a phrase from Apollo
13, a movie about a tragically plagued mis-
sion to the moon. "It's successful because
we're here and a failure because my parents
aren't."

Susie knows it won't always be easy, yet
she and Christopher know they made the
right decision.
"We're one happy family — with a dog, a
bird and five fish',' Skyler said.
And now, counting all creatures, they are
thirteen.

((

Ways To Help

• Contributions to the Evan and Emily Fischer Educational Fund can be
made in care of Larry Kohlenberg, 31313 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 102,
Farmington Hills 48334.

• Attend "Banding Together," a battle of the teen bands, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 24, at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. Tickets are $20 for
adults; $10 for teens. To help with the event or for more information, call
Kari Provizer or Zach Chutz at (248) 661-5700.
"Banding Together" is co-sponsored locally by Temple Israel, B'nai
Brrith Youth Organization, the Frankel Jewish Academy, ATID, Kidz Klez,
Tamarack Camps and the Jewish News. Teen chairperson is Jesse Yedwab;
the adult chairperson is Julie Hantman. The event will benefit orphaned
children of Temple Israel members.

• Rob's musician friends plan to hold a concert later in the summer to cel-
ebrate his life and to raise funds for his children.

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