Epilogue

Pay not attention to the senselessness of the illness that consumed our friend... but instead let us celebrate the joy that his young life brought about in all of us. The words of the grieving brother as he opened up the service.

and for the next little while, that is exactly what we did.

The sister shared her memories of the brother any sibling would love to have. The wonder that was her brother, how she looked up to him and how much of a pillar of support he'd been to her... it all came pouring out...in between sobs and chokes...a sentiment shared by everyone at the service.

Then the brother shared his most cherished moments, and as he described some of his experiences as a 4 year old, for the first time in the day, you could see him take a brief hiatus from the rock he'd been ever since the turmoil began a few months ago. But displaying the strength he had, as the man of the household, he labored on, and supported every single person who came up to share their favorite memories of our fallen friend.

There is probably nothing more tragic than a father having to talk about burying his son. He did not give a eulogy, as much as he had a conversation with his son who lay not 5 feet away. It would be easy to term this the biggest misfortune a family might ever have, but once you heard everyone talk about how much of an impact my noble friend had on their lives, how deeply he had touched the souls of so many, you started reconsidering mourning his devastating loss to celebrating and appreciating the brief but impactful time he had in this world.

They say that the Lord would not put you through anything you can't handle. and so would be the destiny of his new bride, who celebrated but a few weeks of her blissful marriage before he took ill, that she would be the source of strength for her soulmate for the next 5 months till death doth them apart.

while it was probably no one's intention to be that way, the heartfelt emotions pouring out in the form of words resulted in some of the most eloquent tributes you could hope for anyone to receive...and while he did not know it as he rested peacefully encased in solid oak, our friend was the wave of graciousness that entered our lives, drenched us, and just as transiently.. left us.

As the priest recited the prayers for the peace of the departed, you begin to wonder about the mysterious ways of the Lord. He lets some see their great grand kids get to college, and yet, just as graciously, he takes away some before they see their 32nd birthday.

and you started to wonder...maybe, just maybe.. the big guy above does have a plan for all of us...maybe not immediately apparent to those of us not enlightened who still consider earth their domicile, but surely, there must be a reason why sometimes those most loved and least deserving of suffering are the ones taken away the soonest.

The way he spelt his name, he was always on top of my contact list.... and metaphorically, with his conduct, he would always find himself at the top of everyone's list. As they closed the service, the family asked of us..to celebrate his legacy, and to consider celebrating the time we do have here.

Everyone dies at some point.. .but does everyone live?

You will always be at the top of my list. I will hope that you can now rest peacefully, now that you're relieved from all the suffering.... but I know..there's a lot more souls you are about to touch in that big playground upstairs.

I will miss you, my friend.

-The Canuck Engineer