During the years of our friendship, I sensed at times that life wasn't always easy for him. I learned from reading between the lines of his obituary that hard times had chronicled his journey most of his life.
My friend was born the same year that I graduated from high school. He was only 56 years old when he died. Today would have been his 57th birthday.
I guess if you haven't walked a mile in someone else's shoes, you really can't begin to comprehend the obstacles and challenges they have faced during a lifetime.
My friend was only five years old when his father, a truck driver, was killed in a work related truck accident.
From the obituary, it was the listing of survivors in contrast to the number of family members that preceded him in death that seemed out of sync and disproportionate for a person his age.
Survivors included a daughter, a grandson and a sister. He and his sister reportedly didn't know of the other's existence until they were adults. They were linked together through an ancestry.com match. The discovery was welcomed news for both of them.
Family members preceding my friend in death included his father, his mother, a sister and a brother. At the time of his death, he was the only serving member of his original family of origin. The enormity of that kind of loss seems overwhelming.
I honestly didn't know what to expect regarding the number of people that would be in attendance for the memorial service. Yesterday was one of the busiest travel days of the year. Carving out time from busy schedules and holiday travels would be tough for most people.
Yet, when I arrived at church, the parking lot was filled with vehicles. I felt lucky to find a place to park and I arrived early. The turnout of those in attendance mostly filled the church. The vast majority were strangers to me. It spoke volumes about my friend's connections and range of influence with his peer group of other motorcycle enthusiasts.
My friend was a very skilled mechanic and an avid motorcycle enthusiast. He could totally take a motorcycle apart and put it back together again as though it was second nature to him. In fact he voluntarily helped a lot of his friends with their motorcycles and generously gave of his time to help others.
About 45 years ago, I read the book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. It is the story of a father and son who travel from Minnesota to California on a motorcycle. They take the back roads and are unencumbered by anything other than focusing on the moment and living one day at a time.
They absorbed the sights and sounds of nature and through conversation connected in ways they had never connected before. It was a thought-provoking book.
I once asked my friend if he had read the book, and he had not. Of course, he didn't need to read the book. He was immersed in the lifestyle. He was passionate about motorcycles and the advantages of soaking up the sights and sounds of nature and being in the outdoors.
Attending his celebration of life service was a feel good experience for me. I am grateful for his friendship and even more grateful that he was a friend of God. He no longer is at risk for having a difficult time.
All My Best!
Don