In memory of my friend and mentor
He walks with his hands in his pockets, smiling. His eyes shine.
Two bright stars.
He walks around with his hands in his pockets, bright eyes surveying. He doesn't talk, like a man who has said all that needs saying.
A great man who has used all of his great words.
Now he is silent.
But always smiling.
He sat me down once: "what you want to be, in the end, you will be. Until then you can work for me."
So I did.
Too late I realize that what I want to be is him.
His eyes still shine.
I see them in the night sky.
Posted May 1, 2017, 11:19 PM UTC
27
This is an amazing work of imagery. I just had a flash of a man's life from child to adult, growing old, mentoring you.
Then...fade to black, a hospital room, you by his side. That terrible "C" word echoing out of that little room. He smiles and says "You will be what you want to be."
Flash to later, he looks worn out, but still trying to smile. Sunken eyes, still trying to shine with an ever fading light. He holds your hand, his grasp so weak he feels like he is made ofpaper maché. He whispers one last thing to you as you are bent low. "You will be whatever you want to be." The last word so soft you barely heard it.....just the steady scream from the EKG mimicking your own silent inner scream.
That memory stays with you forever..and as you wipe away the misty tears you see a young kid.
You stick your hands in your pockets subconsciously as you approach, "Hey kid, until then, you can work for me."
If that becomes a film, even the barrel chested men drug to the theater by their wives for some reason find their eyes itchy...and their lumberjack beard damp.
Thank you. You're not far off at all.
I remember very clearly the day we were sitting together, and he told me "so-and-so and so-and-so have been working with me for almost twenty years. They both have a house, multiple cars, and are able to take care of themselves. You can work with me for as long as you like until you are what you want to be." I'll never forget that conversation. It was full of comfort and trust and love.
He had lung cancer. Even before cancer, he used to walk around with his hands in his pockets, his arms close against his body because he was always cold. He became very thin and weak, and would often sit at his desk with his head in his hand, exhausted and in pain.
You could hear it in his voice. He tried to stay cheerful. The cancer went into recession. Three weeks he was fine, then it came back and in under a week he was dead.
Best man I will ever know. Thanks again.
I just read it...kinda got a "Tuesday's with Maury" vibe. I think men like this, mentors who do us so much good...are becoming too few. It kills me that people that are such bright stars for us attempt to dim their light. They drink, smoke, have self destructive behaviour while young...and then like a thrown switch try to do everything to go out burning bright. As if they burn out from the inside. I've met a man like your friend, and it...is an experience that as a young man...you do not understand...as you attempt to cope with their death you realize you loved them...and they loved you. With that gruff voice calling you "stupid" when you came to work hungover, to the tired way he said "son" when he told you something serious....
edit: spelling