I feel hollow and gutted inside. Though I enjoy my job, coming in right now leaves a very lead feeling in the pit of my stomach as I consider that a good man lies dying in Carroll County.
The opportunity of life is not bestowed upon us to simply waste away everything, but rather to live well and to impact other people in the best way we can. After retirement, this man spent time playing music for people in nursing homes, all on a keyboard that he taught himself to play.
He has ever been loyal to his family and friends, a patriarch and a leader. One of the greatest things you can do in this life is learn, and he managed to continue learning something new every day, while enjoying the outdoors as much as his body would allow.
No one should have to undergo great pain when they have done so many good things.
To aspire to be good and not perfect, to be human before all else, and to never hide love, to always spurn fear, and to grasp at what can be better in this world.
To understand that not everything you do is right, to seek forgiveness from people and to cling to the dream of beating death, even as your hours grow shorter and the end is near.
When I go, I pray there will be a moment where I may see my wife's face, not as age has made it, but as I see it in my mind. If I am given children I hope to see them with her, everyone smiling.
Let there be a warm breeze in the peak of winter or a cool splash of air across your face in the summer. Let all of the people you have loved, no matter what you have done wrong in your life to them, be gathered at your side. Come in ones and twos and threes, and let it not be the sun that causes you to leave, nor a thunderstorm, but rather the love of everything you hold dear sending you forth and before, to light the way.
Let there be no pain or fear, and may you be blessed.
