As most of my friends now know, my uncle died on September 28th, 2007. In other words, this last Friday. He was only 46.
I'm not telling you all of this to get pity. Quite the opposite, really. You people need to understand.
Hug the ones you love every day.
Give your Grandma a call every once in a while.
Attend your little cousin's birthday party, even if you have plans with your friends.
Make every second you have with them count.
I loved my uncle. I've wrestled with him, shared jokes, and listened to him talk about cars with that loving glint in his eyes.
And now he's gone.
I feel, now that he's no longer here, that I never really got to know him. All of the stories they shared at his funeral; I wondered, why couldn't I have known these things when he was alive? Why couldn't I have gone through all of those scrapbooks with him, seen that smile just one more time?
Because that's one thing I remember most about him. He was always smiling. I never saw him yell, and he was only rough when he was scoldin his hockey team.
He loved life and everyone in it. One of the stories I heard was that once, when he was about 12, there was a boy at his school that was so large that none of the other kids would talk to him. My uncle did, though. They were best fiends up until the day he died.
My Uncle Tom didn't just have friends for a few years; He made friends for life. I'd never seen that many people at a viewing. There was people from all walks of life; Doctors, bikers, hockey buffs, and just about every kid my uncle ever coached.
If anyone was wondering, he died of a massive heart attack. He'd never had any heart problems, nothing to ever suggest that he would die like that. He was there one day, and then... gone.
One thing I see all the time that bothers me is friends getting in fights over stupid thing. Most of the time it's over guys. Come on, people. It's hard to replace good friends, and you never know when you'll see them again. If you've been in a fight, make up with them, okay?
If you've gotten in a fight with your parents, go and forgive them. Swallow your damned pride, and tell them that you love them. I didn't say that to him enough. I hope he knew how much I miss him now.
Now, stop and think for a moment. Really, how much would you miss that annoying little sister, or that aunt who pinches your cheeks? I can tell you right now, you'll miss them about fifty times more than what you're thinking.
If you have read this to the end, I'm thankful. Please try and take my words to heart. You never know who you're going to lose, or when, or how. Just make their every moment in this world last.
Reshao Community Member 
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