Between Thursday and Monday, I lost 2 friends who were a big impact in my life.
My godfather died Thursday of complications from an aggressive resurgence of cancer. He'd been in chemo, and it was going well, then suddenly things went south. Quick. Johnny was basically an uncle - my dad's best friend. He was a hunting and fishing buddy. One of my first jobs as a kid was working in his garden - building beds, pulling weeds, and tilling earth. Even at 68 years old, he was amazed by the natural world, and would stop to point out some oddity or miracle of life when we were outside. This deer season isn't going to be the same without him at the campfire.
I got a call on Monday that another friend had passed suddenly. I met Roger over 20 years ago on an off-roading/camping trip, and we became fast friends. Even though he was my dad's age, his sense of adventure, love of the outdoors, and kind nature made him instantly "one of the crew." We traveled together to all sorts of places and explored the back country in our 4x4s. Over the years we didn't see each other as often, but we kept in touch. Being retired, he was able to travel pretty often, and I always knew there was an open invite to come along. Unfortunately, I did not take those opportunities as often as I should have. He will be missed.
Get out there and LIVE, folks! There's no guarantees in this life. Hug your family and friends. Make time for those you care about. Take a step outside and see this amazing world we live in. Cheers to those no longer with us.
My godfather died Thursday of complications from an aggressive resurgence of cancer. He'd been in chemo, and it was going well, then suddenly things went south. Quick. Johnny was basically an uncle - my dad's best friend. He was a hunting and fishing buddy. One of my first jobs as a kid was working in his garden - building beds, pulling weeds, and tilling earth. Even at 68 years old, he was amazed by the natural world, and would stop to point out some oddity or miracle of life when we were outside. This deer season isn't going to be the same without him at the campfire.
I got a call on Monday that another friend had passed suddenly. I met Roger over 20 years ago on an off-roading/camping trip, and we became fast friends. Even though he was my dad's age, his sense of adventure, love of the outdoors, and kind nature made him instantly "one of the crew." We traveled together to all sorts of places and explored the back country in our 4x4s. Over the years we didn't see each other as often, but we kept in touch. Being retired, he was able to travel pretty often, and I always knew there was an open invite to come along. Unfortunately, I did not take those opportunities as often as I should have. He will be missed.
Get out there and LIVE, folks! There's no guarantees in this life. Hug your family and friends. Make time for those you care about. Take a step outside and see this amazing world we live in. Cheers to those no longer with us.
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