I learned yesterday morning that one of my closest childhood friends died of a heart attack in his sleep overnight. He had just turned 30 a couple of weeks ago.
I met him in Kindergarten and reconnected with him six or so years later when, as fate would have it, my sister and his brother began dating.
During our middle school years, we did everything from play sports and video games to go on vacations together.
We stayed pretty close through my sophomore year of high school. He then joined the football team, after which we went our separate ways. The last time I remember spending time together was the day of my high school graduation. (He failed the 1st grade and went on to graduate a year after me.)
I hardly spoke to him during and after college, but we later began keeping in touch via Facebook. He moved back to Florida after living in California, where his girlfriend and three kids live, for a few years.
In recent weeks, he had told me how happy he was that my wife and I bought a condo last year. He often suggested that he and I meet up at the park to shoot hoops like we did back in our teenage years.
Sadly, we never got around to it, as his life on this earth was cut tragically short. He died of a heart attack, and everyone suspects that his weight and drinking problems were the likely culprits.
It all just seems surreal. He posted something on Facebook at 11 p.m. that night. Everything seemed fine. But the next morning, he was gone. Just like that. Many of his closest friends have been sending their condolences through Facebook, and a fund has been set up to help his family pay for the funeral.
When someone close to you passes away unexpectedly, it really puts things in perspective. We spend so much time sweating the small stuff -- unpaid bills, annoying bosses and coworkers, lousy dates -- when in the end, none of it will matter.
Life is fragile, my friends. We get so caught up in the noise of our daily lives that we often forget we won't be here forever. Eventually, our lease on earth will be up.
As cliche as it sounds, we should really aim to live every day as if it were one of our last. Don't spare any hugs or kisses. Let your loved ones know how much you love them. Do not hold on to any grudges, for you never know when the last day you ever talk to someone will be.
It's unfair that my old friend was taken at such an early age, but God must have his reasons. This post is in honor of my childhood friend, Victor (1985-2015), a great son, friend, dad, uncle, and brother who leaves behind three beautiful kids. May God rest his soul.
Live for today, for tomorrow is never guaranteed.
Does anyone have any experiences they'd like to share? Have you ever had to cope with an unexpected death?
Thanks in advance for reading.
I met him in Kindergarten and reconnected with him six or so years later when, as fate would have it, my sister and his brother began dating.
During our middle school years, we did everything from play sports and video games to go on vacations together.
We stayed pretty close through my sophomore year of high school. He then joined the football team, after which we went our separate ways. The last time I remember spending time together was the day of my high school graduation. (He failed the 1st grade and went on to graduate a year after me.)
I hardly spoke to him during and after college, but we later began keeping in touch via Facebook. He moved back to Florida after living in California, where his girlfriend and three kids live, for a few years.
In recent weeks, he had told me how happy he was that my wife and I bought a condo last year. He often suggested that he and I meet up at the park to shoot hoops like we did back in our teenage years.
Sadly, we never got around to it, as his life on this earth was cut tragically short. He died of a heart attack, and everyone suspects that his weight and drinking problems were the likely culprits.
It all just seems surreal. He posted something on Facebook at 11 p.m. that night. Everything seemed fine. But the next morning, he was gone. Just like that. Many of his closest friends have been sending their condolences through Facebook, and a fund has been set up to help his family pay for the funeral.
When someone close to you passes away unexpectedly, it really puts things in perspective. We spend so much time sweating the small stuff -- unpaid bills, annoying bosses and coworkers, lousy dates -- when in the end, none of it will matter.
Life is fragile, my friends. We get so caught up in the noise of our daily lives that we often forget we won't be here forever. Eventually, our lease on earth will be up.
As cliche as it sounds, we should really aim to live every day as if it were one of our last. Don't spare any hugs or kisses. Let your loved ones know how much you love them. Do not hold on to any grudges, for you never know when the last day you ever talk to someone will be.
It's unfair that my old friend was taken at such an early age, but God must have his reasons. This post is in honor of my childhood friend, Victor (1985-2015), a great son, friend, dad, uncle, and brother who leaves behind three beautiful kids. May God rest his soul.
Live for today, for tomorrow is never guaranteed.
Does anyone have any experiences they'd like to share? Have you ever had to cope with an unexpected death?
Thanks in advance for reading.
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