I wrote something on a piece of paper when my father was in a coma in October 2006; "This is the best man I have ever known, and if you needed a father he would be that for you too."
This man was someone I am fortunate enough have had spent time with. Time that was not so full of talking about me or my life as much as spent living. This man was a constant symbol of what a human being is capable of. A complaint was rarely issued from his lips. A master of his own self. An inspiration to me and everyone he came in contact with. There were things he conveyed in his gaze, manner and body language that transcended conversation. One simply knew that this was a great man, and if you ever told him that he would laugh and say it must be something you ate.
Special enough to call my friend. Happy to acknowledge as my adviser. Calm enough to be my rock. Strong enough to be my protection. Capable enough to do the impossible. Funny enough to change the room. Caring enough to help a stranger. Loving enough to let it all in. So much he was, makes it hard to forget him, although he never would have taken credit for any of it. Content to let others shine in his place, elated to see people learn and grow. His presence in other peoples lives is something I am still learning about. He would say he was no better than anyone else, but he certainly was the best man I've ever met.
Maybe people just say that he was a good man because he is now seemingly left us here without him and its just the right thing to say. Maybe they say things just to make it easier or somehow softer a blow. Maybe everything I hear from others is the only way to know that he lives on through us all.
My father would ask me all the time "What do you know for sure?". What I know for sure is that every person I have ever talked to about him, that knew him, somehow also knows that he was a good man...For Sure.
The world misses him like a dying plant yearns for drink, but simply the memory of him can sustain us all like a current cascading downstream so powerful even the rocks are left soaking.
