Many people were sad. I was leaving them. I hoped it was not permanent.

Start with the truest sentence you know, and then continue.

I was at a wedding in Hearst, Ontario. I had my arm around my father, and my mother was smiling across the table, sober.

“Make me proud, son,” my father said.

“Go out there, make a man of yourself, and make your old man proud.”

The next morning I said goodbye to my parents, and drove home to Sudbury. I left Sudbury the next day, in a car with my sister, my two nephews and the love of my life.

I could not grasp what it would feel like leaving my hometown. I could not begin to think about what a move to the East Coast would bring.

It was new, and I was happy. We were both happy.

I knew I would make him proud. I will make everyone proud.

We will all meet again, and be together again. Remember me, friends I have temporarily left behind. Love each other, and don’t wait too long between your visits.

You have each other, and you need to remember the important things.

Smile today, laugh today, and especially, love today.

Love now. There is not enough love, and hate is such an awful waste of energy.