The disappearing usher

*Updated.... read the end of the story!*

Ok, I am soliciting your help in the greatest mystery of my life.

I am constantly amazed at how small this world really is and how blogs and facebook connect people. I have rekindled friendships with so many people that I thought I had lost forever. And I am often seeing comments on blogs and being blown away by how we are all connected. So, today I am putting the power of the blog out there to see if anyone can help.

Jerry was my best buddy in nursing school. I had a boyfriend, he had a wife and children- it was never anything romantic. We had this odd relationship that just worked. The first day we met, we were assigned to a clinical in Brenham at a school for mentally challenged kids. He offered to drive me, so that we didn't have to take two cars. When we got to the school, I was very overwhelmed by the aggression of one of the kids and spent the whole day hiding behind Jerry. After that, we did everything together. He was like a big brother to me- picking on me, driving me crazy, always giving advice, helping me make better decisions and challenging me spiritually.

Jerry and I the day of our RN pinning
(sorry, it didn't scan very well)

So, when I got married it was only natural that Jerry would be a part of my wedding. He and my brother were the two ushers. Jerry and his family came from College Station and attended the rehearsal dinner, stayed in the hotel room that we got them, came to the wedding. He took all of the traditional guys pictures before the ceremony and did his usher duties at the wedding. Then, when we went to take the full wedding party shots after the ceremony, he was nowhere to be found. Needing to hurry things up, we just went on without him and got to the reception. I thought it was odd, but assumed that maybe one of his kids was ill or something and he was busy attending to them. The reception came and went with no sign of Jerry. We drove away with everyone there wishing us well and still no sign of Jerry.

Before with Jerry

After with No Jerry

Rusty and I talked about it on our honeymoon and both thought it was strange. What could have happened? Surely, there was an explanation. We didn't worry too much. I decided to call when I got back from Costa Rica.

So, I did. I left him a message. No call back. I called again. No call back. Weeks went by, then months with no word from Jerry. Obviously, I then began to get worried. Jerry is an RN in the National Reserves, so I began to worry that he had been shipped overseas. Was he ok? Still no calls.

We drove by his house in College Station and no one was home, but there was a yellow ribbon tied around the tree in the front yard. Does that mean he was deployed? Surely, if something had happened to him, his wife would have called, right?

It has been almost four years now and I still have not heard anything from my friend. I can't find him on myspace or facebook. As recently as this morning, I left a message on a cell number that I found online. I don't even know if it is the same guy.

He disappeared sometime during my ceremony and has not been heard from (by me, at least) since.

So two things...

1. Is this not the craziest story that you have ever heard?
2. Does anyone know my Jerry?

Update:
After four long years, I found my Jerry! Turns out the number I called WAS him. It's so crazy because I have never been able to find a number before today! He is alive and well! We talked this afternoon and it was like we just talked yesterday (isn't that how it always is with a good friend?). I am sad to have missed all that has happened in his life, a deployment, a new baby..
He did give his reasons for his disappearance, but it doesn't even matter. All I care about is that I have my friend back!