Re: Remembering a friend....
I'm sorry to hear about your friend bro. Anniversaries can be really tough, I know that first hand. I'm afraid I don't really have anything constructive to say. As hollow as it may sound, I hope your friend is in a better place. Maybe him and my mom can somehow read this thread and chuckle at us for being sentimental.
It sounds like, if nothing else, he's left behind a tremendous legacy and that he led an interesting life. There are few (if any) things a person can do in this life that are more important than influencing a child in a positive way. My grandfather sent me this in an email today:
"One hundred years from now it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much was in my bank account or what my clothes looked like. But the world may be a little better because I was important in the life of a child"
It's funny, when I was younger I thought the most important legacy one could leave behind was one of fame and glory, of adoration and superficial emulation. Now that I'm older and have lost the person closest to me, I realize how important the role we adults play in the lives of children. In my mind, there is nothing more important than that seemingly simplistic and natural act. As children, we may never even be aware of how much those "regular" people like our mothers, fathers, and friends have impacted our lives until it is far too late. I can only hope that someday my cousins can look back at "cousin Josh" and smile thinking about how I contributed in some small way to their becoming just and happy people.
Re: Remembering a friend....
Dude thats a really touching story
In honor of your friend,my own story
When I was 8 my mother had a nervous breakdown,I had to go live with my Aunt.
She worked as a barmaid,so she was constantly looking for babysitters for me,she didnt have alot of female friends,so it was allways a guy looking after me.
One of the guys she got to babysit me,was a boxer from the Blue Horizon. He didnt know what to do with me,so he figured he'd go to his strengths,and teach me how to box.
Funny story,he was trying to show me how fast a jab could be,cocky little bugger I am,I tried to slip and close. When I came to...........
I got shuffled all around as a kid,but I kept after it,even if all I could do was shadow box in my room,or while I was jogging.
When I should have been going in to Gold Gloves I discovered sins of the flesh,or in some cases chemical persuasion
Fast forward,clean and sober,working as a telemarketer,I get hired on the offseason to telemarket for a Printing Company
Turns out the lead pressman runs a Dojo,and was about to quit there. First he trained me how to run the press,so Id have a real trade.
And on the side,he taught me Ed Parker Ken-Po
I worked 12 years as a printer,allowing me to build my life with my wife.
Feur drove me to my last legal Tournament,I left with a Silver Medal in sparring,and a Gold in Katas
His Dojo was called The Travelling Fist
The gym I turn the lights on every night is called F.I.S.T.
Re: Remembering a friend....
Quote:
Originally Posted by
CFH
I'm sorry to hear about your friend bro. Anniversaries can be really tough, I know that first hand. I'm afraid I don't really have anything constructive to say. As hollow as it may sound, I hope your friend is in a better place. Maybe him and my mom can somehow read this thread and chuckle at us for being sentimental.
It sounds like, if nothing else, he's left behind a tremendous legacy and that he led an interesting life. There are few (if any) things a person can do in this life that are more important than influencing a child in a positive way. My grandfather sent me this in an email today:
"One hundred years from now it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much was in my bank account or what my clothes looked like. But the world may be a little better because I was important in the life of a child"
It's funny, when I was younger I thought the most important legacy one could leave behind was one of fame and glory, of adoration and superficial emulation. Now that I'm older and have lost the person closest to me, I realize how important the role we adults play in the lives of children. In my mind, there is nothing more important than that seemingly simplistic and natural act. As children, we may never even be aware of how much those "regular" people like our mothers, fathers, and friends have impacted our lives until it is far too late. I can only hope that someday my cousins can look back at "cousin Josh" and smile thinking about how I contributed in some small way to their becoming just and happy people.
Wow nicley put mate , I have to spread some round though first,yet again.