The Grim Reaper takes a friend...
My friend Jon died in his sleep last night. He wasn't even 30 years old! Jon's wife, Monie, awoke to find that she was a widow with two small children — a 3-year-old daughter, and a 10-month-old son. When I heard the news, I cried for Jon, but after I phoned my mom to tell her about my friend she said "Don't cry for him. God favored him by letting him die in his sleep. That's the best that we can hope for." (My mom wasn't quoting the lyrics of the song "The Gambler". At 84, and a retired nurse, she knows what she's talking about.)
My tears now are for Monie, who won't have time to fully mourn her loss, because she's got those two young children depending on her. They are both too young to remember their father for long. How very said that the kids will grow up not remembering their dad! Jon is most decidedly worth remembering. He was one of those brilliant yet difficult people who are exasperating yet huggable at the same time. The sad thing is that Jon never realized what a good man he was. Like so many people he spent too much time listening to the demon voices in his head that kept repeating "you're a fraud, a fraud". And he was a fraud, in a way, because as human beings we are all frauds, at times. It goes with the territory. And yet, and yet... Jon was one of the most REAL people I've ever met with the biggest, caring heart of anyone.
One night last fall, my home was broken into. I awoke to find a strange man sitting on the end of my bed, watching tv. (Okay, the guy was obviously crazy, but that didn't make it any less scary, for me.) Jon was the first one at my home, after the police arrived. He and his wife were the only people in Jacksonville who went out of their way to ensure I was okay. Jon stopped by frequently to check on me. He'd invite me to dinner and over for holidays too. I truly grew to love Jon and his family. I saw with my own eyes that Jon was a wonderful father. He totally adored both his children, and he loved his wife too, doing everything he could to help her care for the children and see that she had everything she needed. I think he must have been a good husband too.
If you are reading my blog, please ask yourself if there is anyone you need to make amends to or anyone that needs to hear you love them. Don't put off that apology. Don't stop yourself from saying those three words "I love you". You never know how long you or any of your loved ones have on this earth. Life is short. Too short. And all we have is what the song says.... love. Love is all we need.
Goodbye Jon. I'll think about you and miss you for a long time to come. I'll do what I can to help Monie get through this and I'll do what I can to see that your kids never forget you. Love you, Jon. Have fun flying around in heaven. See you later.
My tears now are for Monie, who won't have time to fully mourn her loss, because she's got those two young children depending on her. They are both too young to remember their father for long. How very said that the kids will grow up not remembering their dad! Jon is most decidedly worth remembering. He was one of those brilliant yet difficult people who are exasperating yet huggable at the same time. The sad thing is that Jon never realized what a good man he was. Like so many people he spent too much time listening to the demon voices in his head that kept repeating "you're a fraud, a fraud". And he was a fraud, in a way, because as human beings we are all frauds, at times. It goes with the territory. And yet, and yet... Jon was one of the most REAL people I've ever met with the biggest, caring heart of anyone.
One night last fall, my home was broken into. I awoke to find a strange man sitting on the end of my bed, watching tv. (Okay, the guy was obviously crazy, but that didn't make it any less scary, for me.) Jon was the first one at my home, after the police arrived. He and his wife were the only people in Jacksonville who went out of their way to ensure I was okay. Jon stopped by frequently to check on me. He'd invite me to dinner and over for holidays too. I truly grew to love Jon and his family. I saw with my own eyes that Jon was a wonderful father. He totally adored both his children, and he loved his wife too, doing everything he could to help her care for the children and see that she had everything she needed. I think he must have been a good husband too.
If you are reading my blog, please ask yourself if there is anyone you need to make amends to or anyone that needs to hear you love them. Don't put off that apology. Don't stop yourself from saying those three words "I love you". You never know how long you or any of your loved ones have on this earth. Life is short. Too short. And all we have is what the song says.... love. Love is all we need.
Goodbye Jon. I'll think about you and miss you for a long time to come. I'll do what I can to help Monie get through this and I'll do what I can to see that your kids never forget you. Love you, Jon. Have fun flying around in heaven. See you later.
posted by Tante Waileka at 12:27 AM
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