Something remarkable happened in the Mercury comments several months ago that I just saw now.

Last winter, I wrote a feature called Candyland Unwrapped, spilling the background story on that strange candy-coated house on SE Milwaukie. Candyland proprietor Tenea Storm started transforming her house into a fantasy candy palace 13 years ago, after a major tragedy struck her small family: her husband Tim Hawley was assaulted by three teenagers and, while Tenea and her infant daughter looked on, sustained serious brain damage. According to Tenea, Hawley recovered partially but became abusive. She started building Candyland as an escape for herself and her daughter, Keana.

In August, this comment appeared on the article:

I am one of the guys who attacked timothy and i truthfully regret my actions. if i could take back all of the pain and dispare i inflicted upon timothy and his family, i would without a doubt place it all squarely on my shoulders. i cant change the pass, this i know. now that i am 31 years old i understand the value of life especially the lives of others. I've prayed every night since i was 15 years old for timothy and his family and still until this day i pray. i had no right, i was wrong, this i will live with until the day i die. i am sorry from the bottom of my soul. n.s.wilson.3rd

A month later, Tenea and Keana responded:

N.S.Wilson my name is Tanea Storm and I am reading this apology with my 16 year old daughter. I look at her and can not inside myself look at the young boy you were without feeling a deep measure of sorrow. You were just a child,as were you all. I want you to know that Keana and I forgive you. Perhaps some day you will be able to forgive yourself. To answer the question about Tim Hawley's condition he suffered severe brain injury which made him mentally unstable, I pray for him and his new family every day.

This is Keana Hawley and I want you to know that I don't hold any hate for you and that you have long since been forgiven. Yes the mistake you helped make left a lasting mark on our lives and yes it was hard to see my dad go from laughing to suddenly being angry and abusive. But you weren't the only one involved in that mistake so you shouldn't carry all the blame if not for the simple fact that you were, out of all of you, the only one to apologize. For that small word makes a whole world of difference. We would also like to invite you to Keana's Candyland to meet and talk with you.

God Bless,
Tanea Storm & Keana Hawley

Wow.