Unforgettable

This past weekend we got to celebrate the life of our friend Hans. A year ago, Hans died unexpectedly at the too-young-age of 39.  If you've known me in the past 15 years, it's hard not to have met Hans. We were roommates in Georgetown for seven years and close friends ever since. Hans was just part of my every day life. He watched me grow up in my twenties, helped me find laughter in my toughest moments, and genuinely celebrated when I met and married Dave.What made that celebration even sweeter was he too, met and married his soul mate during the same time.

On the year anniversary of his death, his widow taught us all a lesson. Instead of being bitter at loosing her best friend after just six weeks of marriage, she chose to celebrate the man she loved. She took a painful, unexplainable situation and made us all feel a little bit better. She read this poem and it fit the mood perfectly:

You can shed tears that he is gone

Or you can smile because he has lived

You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back

Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left

Your heart can be empty because you can't see him

Or you can be full of the love that you shared

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday

Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday

You can remember him and only that he is gone

Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back
Or you can do what he would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.
- David Harkins 1959 - Silloth, Cumbria, UK

We're already sharing Hans stories with Bodie - he was a true one-of-a-kind, and just typing his name brings a smile to my face. Thanks for the unforgettable memories my friend. I look forward to our joyous reunion in Heaven.