People I respect
Lately I have been to a lot more funerals that has to this point been the norm.
I suspect as I get older this will just increase. I also have started to think
about my own mortality as I am now starting to out live people that I did not
suspect I would, so I imagine that the hammer could fall at any second
almost.
In attending a funeral I realized upon some reflection that the man being buried held some qualities that I admired and respected. I never told him that and now of course I can't. If I believed in an afterlife I would be comforted with the knowledge that "Well he knows now where he is" but I don't. So I have to learn to live with the fact I waited too long.
So this post is really me taking some time to reach out to some folks to let them know I respect and love them. It's not a wholly inclusive list. and it is by no means complete. It will grow as I think and reflect about things and people more and more. For now it's just a start but I want to make sure that I start because we never know how much time we have.
If you know some of these people you are lucky, if you don't that's too bad because they are all class acts. My comments and observations may or may not be how these folks see themselves - and the comments in no way fully capture the essence of who these people are. Consider it my clumsy attempt to pay homage to people that have meant the world to me. I don't want to be gone some day without them knowing how I loved and respected them.
Heather
I love and respect my wife Heather. She is patient with me and giving in ways I can't even begin to appreciate. She does not always see it, but my life actually revolves around her and the kids even if I don't always act like it. With her I would have no family of my own, no home and my last 16 years would not have been filled with the peace and contentment that she has brought to me. It is cliche but she is the centre of my world.
Patrick
My relationship with my brother is unique. We go for long times without talking but when we do, I feel we talk in earnest and pick up as if we chatted yesterday. My brother is the smartest man I know, ... (Far more so than me and I fancy myself as smart as most.) We don't always agree but on most topics he always thinks more about it than me (I tend to feel things first). I feel my my brother Pat gets me. I feel as if he really gets me. Outside of him and my wife and maybe 2-3 others on the planet (the list is small) really get me and still hang with me. He was the first one on the list and for many years the only one on it. When I die I hope that he can make sense of me to those that didn't get me.
Derek
The nicest guy you will ever meet. Seriously, THE nicest, and to me that means alot more that it sounds like. Loving and caring and wholly supportive and honest. Derek doesn't tell you what you want to hear, but what you need to hear, but in a way you can accept it because there is no malice in him, ever, he is not capable of it. He is the ultimate friend and bud. A great father, and husband and a great man. Derek can find good everywhere and I envy that about him.
Andrew
Andrew is the most consistent, reliable and dependable person I know. He has a huge sense of duty and responsibility. He seeks nothing for years of service and dedication. He quietly goes about doing the things he feels are important and right, and seeks no recognition or reward. He has stepped up when asked, and stepped aside when asked, and will some day no doubt step down when asked. Until then he will do as required in the service of others asking for nothing as he has done since I have known him. He married into a blended family and made them his own. because that is what you do. Simple as that. Unfettered, uncomplicated and honorable. I wished people saw in me what I see in Andrew.
Mike
Mike is one of the thinkers in my small group of friends. He is insightful, perceptive and compassionate. He is capable of fully engaging and involving himself in his pursuits once chosen. He can, and has, reinvented himself but only after careful consideration of who and what he is and what he feels he needs to be. He has shown himself to be a good father and friend. He approaches all situations calmly, rationally, and rushes into nothing. I don't work with Mike anymore but I have no doubt he is a brilliant manager and boss. He is unwavering in his friendship despite great obstacles and challenges. I am lucky to know him.
Robert
If Mike is the thinker, then Bob is the feeler. Bob is and has always been driven by his passions and loves. He wears his emotions on his sleeve and there is no mistaking how he feels on any subject good or bad. And he will share it with you but no matter how he feels about a particular subject! Bob is by far the most steadfast loyal man you will ever have as a friend. Bob will place himself between you and bullet or any danger you might face and he would do it 2 minutes after telling you that your the biggest jerk in the world because you just did X and it pissed him off. My group of friends have had a great deal of fun over the years tormenting Bob because he is so easy to get wound up as a result of his passions. Bob is often the conscience of our group.
Joan
I have known Joan forever. I have known Joan since 1980 when I first worked in Greenwood Nova Scotia. In fact I have known her that long I cant actually remember when we met as for all intents and purposes she has always just been there. Which is the weird thing about it. Joan is a quiet and private person. She doesn't make loud noises but is tolerant of those who do. She is giving without expectations, forgiving and non judgemental. Joan doesn't speak alot about how she feels but acts consistent with her feelings. I have tormentingly said "hi Joanie" to her off and on every other work day for years and upon hearing that it may cease I am dumbfounded. At a point in my life when i was for all intents unemployable, when my mouth had written checks my ass wasn't able to cash she thew me a line. She gave me command of a cadet unit and found a way to give me a job. When I was getting nickel-ed and dime-ed by an organization for years she put an end to it. She showed faith in me when others didn't. No matter what happens to me in this life I will never forget what she has done for me.
Scott soon..
In attending a funeral I realized upon some reflection that the man being buried held some qualities that I admired and respected. I never told him that and now of course I can't. If I believed in an afterlife I would be comforted with the knowledge that "Well he knows now where he is" but I don't. So I have to learn to live with the fact I waited too long.
So this post is really me taking some time to reach out to some folks to let them know I respect and love them. It's not a wholly inclusive list. and it is by no means complete. It will grow as I think and reflect about things and people more and more. For now it's just a start but I want to make sure that I start because we never know how much time we have.
If you know some of these people you are lucky, if you don't that's too bad because they are all class acts. My comments and observations may or may not be how these folks see themselves - and the comments in no way fully capture the essence of who these people are. Consider it my clumsy attempt to pay homage to people that have meant the world to me. I don't want to be gone some day without them knowing how I loved and respected them.
Heather
I love and respect my wife Heather. She is patient with me and giving in ways I can't even begin to appreciate. She does not always see it, but my life actually revolves around her and the kids even if I don't always act like it. With her I would have no family of my own, no home and my last 16 years would not have been filled with the peace and contentment that she has brought to me. It is cliche but she is the centre of my world.
Patrick
My relationship with my brother is unique. We go for long times without talking but when we do, I feel we talk in earnest and pick up as if we chatted yesterday. My brother is the smartest man I know, ... (Far more so than me and I fancy myself as smart as most.) We don't always agree but on most topics he always thinks more about it than me (I tend to feel things first). I feel my my brother Pat gets me. I feel as if he really gets me. Outside of him and my wife and maybe 2-3 others on the planet (the list is small) really get me and still hang with me. He was the first one on the list and for many years the only one on it. When I die I hope that he can make sense of me to those that didn't get me.
Derek
The nicest guy you will ever meet. Seriously, THE nicest, and to me that means alot more that it sounds like. Loving and caring and wholly supportive and honest. Derek doesn't tell you what you want to hear, but what you need to hear, but in a way you can accept it because there is no malice in him, ever, he is not capable of it. He is the ultimate friend and bud. A great father, and husband and a great man. Derek can find good everywhere and I envy that about him.
Andrew
Andrew is the most consistent, reliable and dependable person I know. He has a huge sense of duty and responsibility. He seeks nothing for years of service and dedication. He quietly goes about doing the things he feels are important and right, and seeks no recognition or reward. He has stepped up when asked, and stepped aside when asked, and will some day no doubt step down when asked. Until then he will do as required in the service of others asking for nothing as he has done since I have known him. He married into a blended family and made them his own. because that is what you do. Simple as that. Unfettered, uncomplicated and honorable. I wished people saw in me what I see in Andrew.
Mike
Mike is one of the thinkers in my small group of friends. He is insightful, perceptive and compassionate. He is capable of fully engaging and involving himself in his pursuits once chosen. He can, and has, reinvented himself but only after careful consideration of who and what he is and what he feels he needs to be. He has shown himself to be a good father and friend. He approaches all situations calmly, rationally, and rushes into nothing. I don't work with Mike anymore but I have no doubt he is a brilliant manager and boss. He is unwavering in his friendship despite great obstacles and challenges. I am lucky to know him.
Robert
If Mike is the thinker, then Bob is the feeler. Bob is and has always been driven by his passions and loves. He wears his emotions on his sleeve and there is no mistaking how he feels on any subject good or bad. And he will share it with you but no matter how he feels about a particular subject! Bob is by far the most steadfast loyal man you will ever have as a friend. Bob will place himself between you and bullet or any danger you might face and he would do it 2 minutes after telling you that your the biggest jerk in the world because you just did X and it pissed him off. My group of friends have had a great deal of fun over the years tormenting Bob because he is so easy to get wound up as a result of his passions. Bob is often the conscience of our group.
Joan
I have known Joan forever. I have known Joan since 1980 when I first worked in Greenwood Nova Scotia. In fact I have known her that long I cant actually remember when we met as for all intents and purposes she has always just been there. Which is the weird thing about it. Joan is a quiet and private person. She doesn't make loud noises but is tolerant of those who do. She is giving without expectations, forgiving and non judgemental. Joan doesn't speak alot about how she feels but acts consistent with her feelings. I have tormentingly said "hi Joanie" to her off and on every other work day for years and upon hearing that it may cease I am dumbfounded. At a point in my life when i was for all intents unemployable, when my mouth had written checks my ass wasn't able to cash she thew me a line. She gave me command of a cadet unit and found a way to give me a job. When I was getting nickel-ed and dime-ed by an organization for years she put an end to it. She showed faith in me when others didn't. No matter what happens to me in this life I will never forget what she has done for me.
Scott soon..
Cheers, and I like to think so (about the "getting you" part). :)
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