To my best friend,
An Ode to a little Brother I will not soon forget. If it wasn’t the comical collage of a dictionary you had, it was the smile on your face that kept everyone in the room around you lit up. I didn’t always quite understand the lingo but it was never mal intended and you always knew what to say and when to say it.
I think you got your indulgent sense of empathy from your two ever-loving parents. Laurie, David, I dream of one day being half the parents you were to my best friend. I know neither of us was ever good at saying it, but I know how much Eric cherished you both. Laurie you were his shoulder to cry on and ear to listen. David, you were the rock to his soul.
To me, you were family. There’s no other way to put it. The only difference is we didn’t come from the same blood. Eric, you were never much to speak up or embrace your feelings, but what I think is just an exceptional quality was your ability to sit and listen to whatever it is I needed to say, whether it be family problems or even the occasional rant about some girl either of us were chasing… Some people have the gift of words; you my friend had the gift to listen. I remember when we met in the schoolyard at the ripe age of 6 years old and boy you could make me laugh back then the way you could till your last few days.
Indira, I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for Eric this past year. You were all the kid could talk about; literally, he would not shut up about you. Whenever there was word of you coming into town, we all had to be on our best behavior because no matter what point in your relationship you guys were in, he wanted his princess to be impressed. I know he loved you with all of his heart and I know he misses you up there too. On that note, I don’t have a doubt in my mind he’s up there looking down at all of us.
David, Laurie, Indira, Dennis, Jordan, Jamie, Julian -- he loved every single one of us and had his own way of showing each and every single one of us.
I will not forget you big guy. I know you’re right here with us in our hearts and I will forever hold you there. I love you brother, forever and always.
Sincerely yours,
Ian