In the eye of my storm

[LITB]

I am so sorry for the loss of your friend.

I cannot even imagine. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Thank you so much DG. I truly appreciate it.

I hope you are doing well.

[2stepboogie]

I am so very sorry for this. My prayers to his family

[JustStunned]

We never truly know how our lives are intertwined or how we have been touched by another until after they are gone.

I will keep his family in my prayers.

[LITB]

Thanks 2step and JS. I appreciate it.

[LITB]

Here is the story that I wanted to share.

The day was January 8, 2010. I was already living in SF, but my family was still in Vegas. I was driving to Vegas with J(the friend I was living with at the time) so I could spend the weekend with my family(as I did every 2 weeks, but usually flew).

My dad was in the hospital at the time, but it was my understanding that he was improving. I had booked a flight to NM to be with him the following weekend.

As we started driving to Vegas, I got a phone call from my sister when we were in San Jose. She said, that the doctors had told my mom that my dad had only 3 months to live. I told my sister that I would fly to NM as soon as I got to Vegas. When we were getting into Bakersfield, I received a second call from my sister to let me know that the doctors said that my dad wasn’t going to make it through the weekend. I let my sister know that I would be catching a flight as soon as I get to Vegas.

So I found myself in one of the most difficult situations that I could be in. I sent my W an email asking her to check flights for me as I had to be in NM immediately. I didn’t tell her why. At the same time I was checking flights on my phone. At some point I text Matt(my best friend) to let him know what was going on with my dad. We were all looking for flights. The last one to NM was to depart at 8:30. I wasn’t going to arrive in Vegas until 8 at the earliest. I had already asked my W to have everything packed for a week as I was going to drive my family to NM as soon as I arrived at my house.

Matt sent me a text that he was going to check into a private flight for us. I told him that I couldn’t accept it, because I would never be able to repay him. His reply was, “Dude, this is your dad. It isn’t like you are going to Disneyland.” We continued corresponding as we worked out the logistics of the trip. At 10:30 that night, my family, including my mother-in-law were on a private jet headed to Albuquerque. Thanks to Matt, I was able to spend at least an additional 10 hours with my dad. That wasn’t the end of it. Matt flew in the next day to be with me during this time. He didn’t leave the hospital until my dad passed away in the early morning of January 10, 2010. He flew straight back to Phoenix.

It still didn’t stop there, but that is the main point I wanted to share.

This is my unedited version. I will be sharing this story at his memorial on Wednesday when I will have the opportunity to honor my friend, who was like a brother to me.

[♪CS♪]

That's a great story man. It's amazing how much we remember when people do the right thing. Those things live on forever.

Peace man.

[LITB]

That's a great story man. It's amazing how much we remember when people do the right thing. Those things live on forever.

Peace man.

Thanks Country. I was going to rewrite it, but I am just going to get up there without a paper and tell it the way I remember it.

As you said, it is amazing how much we remember. That memory is so vivid. I am sure that I will get emotional.

[jbnati]

Wow, LITB! That's incredible! Thanks for sharing that. Your friend made a huge difference in your life. That's what it's all about, man. At the end of the day, we all want to make a difference in this world, and that's the way your friend will be remembered.

[2stepboogie]

Good friends are hard to come by, if you go through life and are able to make one good friend you are a lucky person if you make two then you are truly blessed. I have such a friend ironically his name is also Matt.

“The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most. I can better trust those who helped to relieve the gloom of my dark hours than those who are so ready to enjoy with me the sunshine of my prosperity”. - Ulysses S. Grant

Posted this on my FB a few weeks ago. Thought it would be appropriate.

Hope all is well

[LITB]

Wow, LITB! That's incredible! Thanks for sharing that. Your friend made a huge difference in your life. That's what it's all about, man. At the end of the day, we all want to make a difference in this world, and that's the way your friend will be remembered.

Thanks JB. He did make an incredible difference in my life. The memories are endless.