Life is short and when that reality hits you once you realize all the trivial things in life don't matter. Little fights and bickers here and there shouldn't ruin friendships or relationships. We're here only for a short time, a lifetime.
It becomes all too real when someone close to you passes away. You realize all the things you should have said, done or wanted to say and do. You realize that your time together wasn't long enough, but that every moment should be cherished as if it were your last with whomever.
Right now I've lost someone in my life that I looked up to as a second father. He supported me raised me as his own kid. He watched over me and helped me when I was younger, I remember weekends hanging out at his work because my parents worked weekends and he had a son my age and we'd hang out at his shop playing around in the dirt. We became best friend, his son and I, and now we're not because of a stupid reason.
Loss of a loved one in life makes me realize the little fights and bouts my friend and I have had are nothing. We should cherish our friendship because that's all the time we have. I've made it my decision to make amends with my old friend and let the past be in the past, let grudges subside and disappear because when it comes down to it, we were brothers. We have now both lost someone very close and dear to us. We've lost someone we looked up to, someone fun, respected, and just plain old awesome.
I'm right now not in the mood for anything. I'm so caught up in emotions that I can't feel attached to anything. I'll be back sometime sooner or later, when I don't know but I will be back.
If you love someone so much and you haven't told them you do today or anytime, now is the time to do it. Call them, text them, let them know how much you love them, because every moment you don't tell them is a moment they are further from you.
It doesn't matter if its a friend, loved one or family member. Life selects anyone and takes him or her away. It's a cruel world out there and the time we have with everyone is always just borrowed time, we'll all check out sometime, I just wish it wouldn't have been so soon for Daniel Sr.
I'm going to miss him greatly. He will always be in my heart and mind as a mentor and a father.
Below is the poem they had said at Daniel Dean Durham's funeral. It's touching and has so much thought in it. Mr. Durham, or rather more he had me call him Dad or Dan would have loved this poem had he heard it I believe.
Life ending so suddenly like this makes me think about the time we have with each other. The time is short and it doesn't measure up to who we are with the things we have but who we are in the hearts of the people we love.
I've made amends with my old friend and hopefully things go back on track with everyone else. Life is short and I do not want to regret anything in life when I go. I also do not want to regret not saying anything to anyone before they are gone from my life.
I would share with you this poem and let everyone know that if you know me well enough you know that when I say I love you more than anything you know it to be true.
To my friend Daniel, my condolences go out to him and his family.
~Michael
The Dash
by Linda Ellis
I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end.
He noted that first came the date of her birth
And spoke of the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own,
The cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard;
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
To consider what's true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect
And more often wear a smile,
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.
So when your eulogy is being read
With your life's actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?
1996 Linda Ellis
It becomes all too real when someone close to you passes away. You realize all the things you should have said, done or wanted to say and do. You realize that your time together wasn't long enough, but that every moment should be cherished as if it were your last with whomever.
Right now I've lost someone in my life that I looked up to as a second father. He supported me raised me as his own kid. He watched over me and helped me when I was younger, I remember weekends hanging out at his work because my parents worked weekends and he had a son my age and we'd hang out at his shop playing around in the dirt. We became best friend, his son and I, and now we're not because of a stupid reason.
Loss of a loved one in life makes me realize the little fights and bouts my friend and I have had are nothing. We should cherish our friendship because that's all the time we have. I've made it my decision to make amends with my old friend and let the past be in the past, let grudges subside and disappear because when it comes down to it, we were brothers. We have now both lost someone very close and dear to us. We've lost someone we looked up to, someone fun, respected, and just plain old awesome.
I'm right now not in the mood for anything. I'm so caught up in emotions that I can't feel attached to anything. I'll be back sometime sooner or later, when I don't know but I will be back.
If you love someone so much and you haven't told them you do today or anytime, now is the time to do it. Call them, text them, let them know how much you love them, because every moment you don't tell them is a moment they are further from you.
It doesn't matter if its a friend, loved one or family member. Life selects anyone and takes him or her away. It's a cruel world out there and the time we have with everyone is always just borrowed time, we'll all check out sometime, I just wish it wouldn't have been so soon for Daniel Sr.
I'm going to miss him greatly. He will always be in my heart and mind as a mentor and a father.
Below is the poem they had said at Daniel Dean Durham's funeral. It's touching and has so much thought in it. Mr. Durham, or rather more he had me call him Dad or Dan would have loved this poem had he heard it I believe.
Life ending so suddenly like this makes me think about the time we have with each other. The time is short and it doesn't measure up to who we are with the things we have but who we are in the hearts of the people we love.
I've made amends with my old friend and hopefully things go back on track with everyone else. Life is short and I do not want to regret anything in life when I go. I also do not want to regret not saying anything to anyone before they are gone from my life.
I would share with you this poem and let everyone know that if you know me well enough you know that when I say I love you more than anything you know it to be true.
To my friend Daniel, my condolences go out to him and his family.
~Michael
The Dash
by Linda Ellis
I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end.
He noted that first came the date of her birth
And spoke of the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own,
The cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard;
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
To consider what's true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect
And more often wear a smile,
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.
So when your eulogy is being read
With your life's actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?
1996 Linda Ellis