It’s hard to know how to say goodbye. It mostly seems contingent on the fact that you may or may not see that person again. So if I expect to see that person again, I don’t like saying goodbye. I got caught.

My friend George passed away a few days ago. I hadn’t seen him in a couple of months.  He’d been battling cancer for many years.  When I would see him we’d chat about this and that, some techie things, and other guy stuff like football (more specifically the Steelers).  On occasion I’d ask him about his health, how he was feeling.  In my recollection he had cancer on the run for a good stretch of time, but he seemed to have an eye on it from time to time.  When things weren’t so great, he was honest about it, and when things were, he was stoked about it.

One of the things that George  did consistently, even while sick,  was volunteer. He was retired from “paid” work for some time, but was still giving back. From wrapping gifts at the mall for charity or serving at his church or volunteering in several ways at Messiah Village, he was always giving back.  I think that if I had been walking in his shoes I would’ve had a hard time not feeling sorry for myself. Volunteering would be the last thing on my mind.  He blew me away with his heart to serve his community.

So for the short number of years I knew George, I will be thankful for the good times shared working together. I’ll miss him, and his wry sense of humor, but I am not going to say goodbye.

George, I’ll see you on the other side.

Tags: Messiah Village, volunteering