Goodbye my friend.

A few hours ago my friend's brother Jimmy called with terrible news. My buddy Kevin passed away this weekend.

I met my friend at a job years ago. He used to read a lot in the break room sitting by himself and not really socializing. I sat across from him one day and asked him about the book he was reading. From then on a friendship ensued.

Kevin stood out because of his mannerisms. He talked slow and walked with a large limp as the result of a car accident that gave him extreme brain trauma and a shattered hip. Daily life could be a chore for him, but instead of sitting around feeling sorry for himself he made a concerted effort to live a normal life as much as humanly possible. He worked, went to the gym, he went out, he laughed with us, and partied with us.

He may have been disabled, but he had strength that most of us could only wish for. His humor and his thirst for knowledge always kept him trying to conquer his disability, but it wasn't his handicap that I'll remember him for.

I don't know what he saw in me as a friend, but for years to come I can only wish that I touched his life as much as his touched mine. I'd like to think that now he's found some true sense of happiness, some that we all wish we can achieve.

He was a brother, an uncle, a son, and my friend. As the sun set on his life I do pray that he could look back and say it was a good one because of the people that loved him.

Goodbye Kev. You will be missed.

"The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time." - Mark Twain