all i could do
was feel

feel like i needed to honour him

somehow i knew he was listening
watching
knowing that he would not be forgotten

while mourning i told someone who did not know him
who he was to us, who he was to his family,
who he loved (his wife and sons, the center of his universe)
what he loved (oh he loved his cars so much!)
and how his strong will to live helped others fight
the same battle

he won
though it claimed him in the end,
he won

for us all.

goodbye, old friend. we'll see you soon.

--------------------------------------------------------

after his memorial and on the way home, i found a penny on the floor of the bus. that morning a friend had dropped one and didn't pick it up, so i thought, alright, i'll pick this one up; it looks old, too. i turned it over and discovered it was a rare find indeed, then stopped short. it said 1940, his birth year. i think it was a parting gift from him. so thank you, old friend, for making that moment special. i'll treasure that little item forever.

i miss you.