The Clouds Are Amazing Today!

A really good friend passed away today. I've only known him maybe for a couple of years, but we became good friends late last year. He cheered me up and listen to me whine and complain and rant and vent when I was at such a low point. Random invitation to hang out with people at JB's, the local karaoke bar, even though I don't sing.. and neither did he. His Captain & Coke and whatever I have a taste for that night.He would randomly invite me to hang out at Steak 'n Shake in the middle of the night, throw frisbees and footballs in front of a 24hours gym. Cravings for eggrolls and bubble tea were satisfied with random trips to Chinatown.. yes in the middle of the night. He'd always pay too. Thanks for letting me mooch, kid.

It was so unexpected, he was so young. He's going to school AND just started a new job in the city. We made plans to go to Chinatown after he gets his paycheck.. and he was gonna cook french toast for me and some friends. Apparently he's really awesome with french toast, or so he said.

Yes, he can be annoying at times. But what twentysomething boy is not?

It was just too close to home, you know? First it was that celebrity, that person that a friend knows, a neighbor, an acquaintance. But a friend? It was in my own fence. It was a person I laughed with, joked around with, shared stories with, shared a hug with.

His passing taught me an age old lesson, I should've learned a long time ago. Tell the people you love that you love them before it's too late.

Him: Hey Jay (he'd call me vajanis, then vajayjay)
Me: Waza??
Him: love you.
Me: It always amuses me how easily you throw those three words around.. why?
Him: Nevermind.

And now he gave me the answer. Every night, he'd text a bunch of people, "What's going on tonight?" Half the time I blow him off because I'm too tired to hang out, or even to talk. Sometimes, I'd think, "I don't know about you, but I'm going to [insert plans here]." Just last Friday, he invited me over for a bonfire. All I told him was, "How are you throwing a bonfire when half the people are in Relay? Besides, I need to go home and sleep 'coz I have work in the morning. Plus, my ride's here." His reply? "You should've told me, I could've just given you a ride." And my thought process was, we're gonna go to Chinatown anyway, let's just wait. But I guess there's no chance for that now.

Study harder.
Dream bigger.
Talk nicer.
Laugh louder.
Smile sweeter.
Stand prouder.
Walk straighter.
Run faster.
Jump farther.
Fly higher.
Live fuller.
Love deeper.
Shine brighter.
..and most importantly, speak up like it's your last minute on Earth. Tell the people you love how important they are to you. How much they've affected your life, and how much you appreciate them in your life. And don't forget to thank them for letting you become a part of theirs.

Because you never know when God is going to call you home. And when that happens, you should've lived your life the way God intended for you to. With deep relationships, and deeper meaning.

When you were born, you cried, and the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a manner that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice.

Thanks for the memories, kid.
You're right, the clouds are amazing today.