Wednesday, May 21, 2008
I cannot begin to tell you of my sorrow for you and your family's heartache, with the loss of your father, Angie. Although he will always be a part of all of you, in those little things that he said and did, and it left its indelible mark upon all of your hearts, his loss will be felt keenly, for a long, long time. I feel that those whom we deeply love --- and lose --- are with us, if we consciously choose not to let them fade into the background of our lives. We can recall a certain smile. A favourite expression. A saying that will always be associated with only them. Some of the life lessons that they lovingly taught us. The hard truths that they helped us to see, which hurt their hearts, to see us struggle with the lesson. In truth, they are with us --- and truly within us. We carry the genes that were passed along to them, before us, and we then in turn, carry them onward. If there is to be any kind of silver lining in all of this, Angie, it is in knowing that he got to be with all of you, not only after the initial surgeries, but very recently. I believe that nothing on this planet could have made him a happier person, than feeling loved, and feeling such a strong love for those of you who were your Dad's entire world. I'm sure that you could imagine his voice in your ear, telling you that he was blessed to have so much love in his life. He will be greatly missed, and as time marches onward, very much treasured as the kind, generous, decent, caring man that he lived so fully as. The example he set lives on, in all of you. I feel saddened by your loss, and wish thoughts of all of the funny, magical, memorable times together, to be within you, as your fondest memories for the rest of your days, my dear friend. - Michael. xo
