Ian Remembered.......

Last year, with a shattered, broken heart, I wrote this: A Tribute about my special buddy, Ian.   You can read for yourself how special he was to me..... not just to me, but to his friends.   More importantly, how much more special he was to his family: his mom, his dad,  his brothers and his sisters.  He wasn't a special needs buddy, he was a special buddy whom everyone needed.   I can fill pages of a book about Ian, but even all the papers in the world would not suffice.

 

(This picture was taken January 7, 2012

at my best friends' wedding. (Keren and Josh.

Just looking at his and his Mother's face, you can tell that he is a fully spirited young man)

 

This week, I was thinking of him a lot.  I knew this week is the anniversary of his death and I was struggling with it to some degree.  (I've always struggled who close friend's death....for example, several church members, honorary grandparents etc) In one way I can hardly believe it's been a year since Ian's death.  There aren't any days that goes by that I don't think of Ian, especially those Sundays when I walk through the corridors of the church.   I still half way expect being "ran over" by Ian with his exuberant energy ready and willing to give me a hug.  Everyday, I'm trying to live like he did.   I learn to love like he did.  He loved unconditionally.  He saw no flaws.  He passed no criticism; he judged no one.  When do we ever do that?  When was the last time you passed criticism about another person?   I knew when he ask questions about my looks or my own health issues or disabilities it was because he cared and he wanted to know because he had love in his heart.   He always ended our talks with a high five or a hug. 

 

The year seems long also....because I miss his hugs and his laughs and his high fives.   But you know what?  I bet Ian thinks that this "year" felt like a millisecond to him....as  he is worshiping God up in Heaven.  He's playing those bongos and drums.....and of course, he's probably watching us eating up all those tamales and thinking "Come on now, you can eat hotter ones than you got there!"

 

Ian,  Oh, how much I miss you, buddy! Save a place for me, right beside you.  I know....I know.  YOU (of all people) have a lot of people fighting to sit by your side, but at least, just save a place for me.

 

Jesus, please give Ian a hug and high five for me.

 

 

 

Thank you for being you.  You weren't a special needs person,  you were a special person who we all needed in our lives.