Memorial

Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy.


So, not to start off morbid, but my new thing of the day was to go to a funeral/memorial. Been to funerals for relatives, but this was a first since it was for an old boss. A former coworker E called last week and told me the big boss B had cancer and died. I was in genuine shock & quite sad. So today was his burial & memorial reception. I felt the need to pay my respects and go, but I also wanted to see some old coworkers and find out how they were doing.

It's amazing how a death can stir up the past, make you reminisce and reflect. It wasn't a heavy memorial for us. We got there late but quickly spotted some familiar faces. It was more of a good natured reunion with sad circumstances. We spent most of the time catching up and reminiscing. I think the Big B would have liked that. 

Anyway that place we all worked was my first job out of college. It was a non-profit economic development organization, and it I remember being idealistic and hopeful of changing the world, truly making a difference and helping people. I left about two years later disillusioned and trying my hand at business at a large corporation you have heard of. 

So this event made me realize that I still have a lot of room to grow and there's a lot of space left to become a better person. It wasn't the death so much that made it evident. It was what I left behind and an old coworkers who inspire me. Big Boss B made me realize that sometimes your work and coworkers are your life, and he always treated it with the upmost importance and respect. Old manager L taught me the value of relationships and friendship, and sometimes it's more important to be a friend than a boss or coworker. Coworker E reminded me to follow my own path, and to not listen so much to negativity and unhappy people in trying to find your way. Coworker V inspires me to be sophisticated and classy, in every non-money related sense of the word. 

Lately, I've been conflicted, with some of the same themes popping up. I feel this was an important evening, a reminder of what is essential. Little signs along the way don't hurt. On the way to the memorial I saw an accident on the freeway and said a little prayer for the people in it instead of being a rubber-neck. The song "Live Like We're Dying" by Kris Allen came on the radio. On the way home I stayed glued to my phone most of the time, but when I looked up and saw a "People Before Profit" pharmacy billboard. We ran into another traffic jam/accident on the freeway so we took a detour through the old neighborhood I used to drive going to my old job. And finally, on the way home I put my head up again away from the phone and see a vanity license plate saying 4FRMGOD. Kind of like 4 people who inspired you tonight, and FORE as in "watch out ahead" from God.

Yes I believe in the supernatural, because I'd like to believe there's just more, even though we might not understand how or why. Plus I'd like to believe there's some magic out there, something mystical and powerful to guide us along. 

So that's my new thing of the day. Sort of, diving into a death and finding a new lease on life. Thanks for the inspiration Big B. Thanks for being a good boss and a good guy and giving us lots to laugh about in remembering you. May you rest in peace and know that you brought us all together and made a positive impact in our lives.