I really liked this written by my friend, and "nephew-in-law" Daniel Theisen. It brought back feelings I have for friends that have died, in particular Dave and Rob.
"Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way."
Daniel Theisen
"Live fearlessly till your dead"
My friend Joe Connolly often said. His pronunciation, letter perfect, free of his usual mumbled and growled words, Add to that, his Vernor hiWay gestures, an inappropriate laughs, most just heard a scary guy, few could understand.
He was born deaf and poor, and always ignored and treated like he was just dumb. He got that line from his seldom scene daddy road musician, that often dodged him and his mom.
He learned those words like a respected prayer, and lived them while being seriously damaged from the lead in his diet.
The only thing he got really good at was boxing. He was a boxers boxer, that was once the light weight, golden glove champion of Jackson prison. Of course ending up there fearless and dimmed, it's that non stop conveyor belt, from street schools to prison.
He never really got a chance to live, no matter how well he practiced saying that line.
While in the real world his brain damage continued to worsen, from constant hits to the head.
Some in the ring, some in dark alleys, that never stopped him, from greeting every morning with a fearless roar, an offered hand, and a smile. He believed his five magic words, said well and often, helped us all, just by being said.
As I will do too, today and tomorrow, in remembrance of his passing, the loss of his sweet smile. The last time I seen him was back in 1966, he was 25 years old, playing cops and robbers" with a large group of children that were between age 5 to 12. Having a blast, while every parent knew, their child was safe with him.
While searching for him again today, just to thank him for the good, he's done, I found that he had died a while ago, still enjoying life, with the innocence of a child.