Thursday, June 11, 2015

Friends and Losses

Sunday we lost a friend, brother, father, son, loved one. I haven't known what to say. Gabe was my friend. Somehow that doesn't sum it up. Many have heard me say, "Gabe isn't a person, Gabe is an experience. One must Experience Gabe." I morn that no one will have the opportunity to gain and appreciate the impact of that Experience. Kim wrote a beautiful statement, I admit it, it made me cry. In it she mentioned his Passion. If there was ever a word to describe this man, that was it. Passion. The only thing I could add to that would be it's intensity. Gabe wasn't just passionate - he was Fiercely Passionate. If he felt something was worth taking time out of his day to do, he went at it like a force of nature. This was a man who loved his Wife and Children openly and with everything he was. He always spoke of how lucky he was to have their love, and his eyes shone with pride with everything concerning them. I truly felt sorry for any boy who would dare look twice at his little girl. There was that same intense joy in the things he did. Many of us may not of understood what gave him the ideas and drive, but on some level, I'm sure most of us appreciated the vitality he put into them. Gabe was many things to many people. He had a bluntness that I respected. If he was thinking it, he would say it. Right or wrong, you knew exactly where you stood with him. There aren't enough people in the world with that quality. There were times to laugh, times to dive into deep discussions from the heart, and yes even times I wanted to smoke him upside the head. But there was always that foundation of respect, and I always knew if I needed help, he would be there for me. I hope he knew it was mutual. I was very disturbed by the news cast Monday night regarding his life and death. In it they took a part of Kim's statement and I felt implied that he drove her away, choosing an activity over his family. Not remotely true. Kim spoke of not asking him to choose between the people he loved and the life he loved. To ask him to give up his passions would be to ask him to give up being who he was, and it would change him from the person she so selflessly loved. That was her message, selfless love for a man who shared her life, a love he returned regardless of their address. Everyone knew who he was. Someone mentioned his name, everyone knew who you were talking about. He was a person who impacted the lives of those around him. From his dark razor like humor, to his ability to make you feel like he was not only listening to you, but truly cared about you. He was someone not easily understood, described, or catalogued. He was an Experience. One I will miss. Rest in peace knowing those you loved are loved and will be watched over in your absence. To you Gabe, I say good bye, be safe my friend, and Blue Skies.