PAY YOUR RESPECTS
On March 14th, an old friend of mine passed away from Multiple Myeloma (bone marrow cancer). We had some good times in the past…late night parties, tubing on the lake, sons born around the same time, work celebrations, etc. Over the recent years, we only spoke about once a year via phone and twice a year via email. While it wasn’t often, I always knew that the guy on the other end of the phone or email was still the same great guy I always knew. He was consistently a good man.
I drove to Orlando tonight to pay my respects and pray for his family. Two men I have known throughout the years gave his eulogy and they both echoed the same things everyone in the standing-room-only cathedral was thinking. Great husband, father, co-worker, friend, fighter, man of faith, son, jokester, Gator fan, Irishman, lover of life. We all felt blessed to have known him.
His two young children broke my heart as they exited the church with their mom. The older boy, 10, was stoic and strong for his little sister, 7, who was sobbing with big red swollen eyes. I am grateful that my friend gave me yet another reminder of humility, positivity and appreciation for the present. Tonight, when I got back to the Gulf Coast, I snuck into my son’s room to kiss him goodnight and hug him a little longer than normal as he slept. I told my husband how much I love him and wish he could have been there with me. Tonight I celebrated the life of my friend who left us way too young at the age of 42, but in turn he reminded me of the fragility of life and made me live a little more.
PAY YOUR RESPECTS
On March 14th, an old friend of mine passed away from Multiple Myeloma (bone marrow cancer). We had some good times in the past…late night parties, tubing on the lake, sons born around the same time, work celebrations, etc. Over the recent years, we only spoke about once a year via phone and twice a year via email. While it wasn’t often, I always knew that the guy on the other end of the phone or email was still the same great guy I always knew. He was consistently a good man.
I drove to Orlando tonight to pay my respects and pray for his family. Two men I have known throughout the years gave his eulogy and they both echoed the same things everyone in the standing-room-only cathedral was thinking. Great husband, father, co-worker, friend, fighter, man of faith, son, jokester, Gator fan, Irishman, lover of life. We all felt blessed to have known him.
His two young children broke my heart as they exited the church with their mom. The older boy, 10, was stoic and strong for his little sister, 7, who was sobbing with big red swollen eyes. I am grateful that my friend gave me yet another reminder of humility, positivity and appreciation for the present. Tonight, when I got back to the Gulf Coast, I snuck into my son’s room to kiss him goodnight and hug him a little longer than normal as he slept. I told my husband how much I love him and wish he could have been there with me. Tonight I celebrated the life of my friend who left us way too young at the age of 42, but in turn he reminded me of the fragility of life and made me live a little more.
