Tell you what, something that I believe--another lesson I learned from my mother's death--is that people we love don't really leave us when they are taken from this life, because they live on in our hearts--because we love them--as long as we live on. Rich will always be with us in our hearts because we love him.
Good to keep this in mind, Jeff.
I felt miserable this afternoon, so went out for a while and came back feeling a bit more peaceful.
It occurred to me while I was driving that Rich would not want us to feel miserable right now. That may sound corny, but I think it's true. He was sad and frustrated at times, but he was also funny and caring. I remember some of the times when I was around him when we were all laughing....like the time he was begging and pleading for Chuck to find a rest stop when we were in the van coming back from the rodeo in 2007.
I also remember how he talked about his daughter Elizabeth every chance he got.
And I know how much he meant to his best "in-person" friends here, and to so many others who didn't know him that well.
I just wish I had been able to spend more time with him. Maybe in Ft. Lauderdale this past April (who knew, back then?) or maybe in NYC sometime this fall. Anyway, I still have the Christmas card PM he sent me in December 2007.