I’m not really feeling this 2008 Valentine’s Day – for my heart is with the family of Lucien on this day. 18-year old Lucien Christalin, a Haitian–American man who attended Cambridge Rindge and Latin, died from gunshot wounds on Friday night in a living room on Windsor Street in Cambridge.

Lucien and his friends were playing with a gun, and while they were certainly going against the grain of doing what their parents taught – I still ask God why, why Lucien? After all, they are/were young folks who forgot, or misplaced their parents unending mantra of be wise, be safe. And though we parents say those words, pray those words, we never know what attack lies for our babies once they go out the front door.

I knew not Lucien, but his face is familiar to me. Surely I have bumped into him on some basketball court around the city, I must have said “Hey now”… with a “Yall be safe” to boot. I must have seen him amongst the gaggle of teens who weekly liven up the CCTV hallways – and matter of fact he made his mark by getting involved at CCTV in 2005.

I knew not Lucien, but surely I - we - was Christalin once - young, smart, talented - with eyes wide open to the burgeoning world. For the Love of Lucien we should remember him, we should celebrate his life and encourage youth to take heed, obey (that’s right) obey the butterfly that melts the tummy, that warns the brain the knell, warning bell that says “don’t go there”… Surely for the love our youth take heed on The Love & Loss of Lucien. Blessings to His Friends and family.

FYI: Friday, Feb. 15 @ A.J. Spears Funeral Home on 120 Western Ave in Cambridge from 6-9. The funeral will be Saturday Feb. 16 @ St. Joseph Church in Cambridge @ 10 am. Immediately after the ceremony, will be heading to Cambridge Cemetery.

On Wednesday, 2/20, a poetry reading in Lucien's honor will be held at the Margaret Fuller House (see attached). A tribute BeLive show at CCTV will take place at 7:30 on the same evening, and will be cablecast live on channel 9. All are welcome to watch and/or participate.