Hardly knew him. A good fellow from what I remember. A person that was not hard to miss. Can't say that about most people. All the peoples in our lives, who do we remember? Do they remember you? Maybe. What impact have they had on your life. Crushes you had. Assholes you met. Competitors that you didn't like just because. I heard FDR said this once, "
“I ask you to judge me by the enemies I have made.” I like this quote.
Made some. A few were about a girl. Few were about work. Few were just because what they did.
In many comic books, super heroes have enemies. In sports, there are arch rivals. In religious texts, there are the fallen ones and the not chosen ones.
Conflict, competition, adversaries--there is the struggle. This tension. This fight.
If we can look at those, that raised our ire with a loving heart, if we can love our enemies. Than maybe.
John was big man. Good laugh. Huge hands. Unusual nose. A man with a good heart. I knew him by acquaintances of acquaintances. It was no surprise to hear his health was a factor in his passing. I can relate to this issue. As we get old, we start losing stuff. When I think of him, I don't remember him losing stuff. He always seemed big to match his heart.
People we have in our lives. What will they remember? People that we should have in our lives. Will they forgive? Will they forget? Will they move on? In time, maybe. In a couple weeks, the moon will be the closest to the earth. Will this celestial occurrence bring someone to your life? Will this mark a change of season? Will we regress or evolve?
My heart is heavy. Because I hear the silence. An old Indian saying goes something like this, "When you were born, the world laughed and smiled. While you cried. Live your life so when you leave, the world will cry and you will laugh and smile."
I am not sure if I will be this lucky. I hope maybe, that life will allow me this opportunity.
John, go in peace.
