R.I.P. My friend

Gary (middle) and friends/co-workers in action.

 Last week a friend of mine passed away after a two year battle with cancer. His name was Gary and he would have turned 21 this year. I met Gary through work, he was a fresh faced new hire that brightened everyone's day. He was literally, a kid, out of high school starting college, entering the workforce and looking forward to a long and fruitful adult live. Unfortunately, out of the damn blue, he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in 2011 at the age of 19. I was one of Gary's supervisors, responsible for his training and development at work. I can honestly say that he was one of the most positive and optimistic people I have ever met. He didn't smoke or do drugs, he was athletic, an avid church goer, had a long term girlfriend and unlike most people (jaded/cynical assholes like myself) he actually liked being at work. The bravery he displayed these past two years, in the face of countless treatments and surgeries, is truly inspiring. Why a great human being like Gary had to leave this world so prematurely is something I'll never understand. His funeral is tomorrow.

Here is song I've been listening to a lot lately that feels strangely appropriate. It's simultaneously beautiful and tragic and I wish it would go forever but alas...