In Summation

I'd like to introduce you to a person. Someone that if you got a chance to really know, it'd change your life. This person has a family who loves them very much. And to this person's family, they are an essential cog. Because in this family everyone takes a turn being the strong one, and the smart one, or the crazy one.

This person had an awesome life. Not necessarily book worthy, but I am not saying their life wasn't compelling. World travel, adventurer, survivor. This person has been up on the highest of peaks in life and smiled with eyes closed as an explorers breeze swept through their hair. Sun shining on all they'd accomplished

This person has also walked through some tortuously dark valleys. Surrounded on all sides by trials, groping on the wet dirt and ash just to see another storm on the horizon. But this person didn't grit their teeth in despair rather to stammer their own complaints because dwelling on the bad would not have gotten them through all the pain and sorrow.

This person had a few friends and tons of acquaintances. Most of their acquaintances immediately became fans. They would tell others, "Oh yeah, I know them!" But of this person's friends only one of them got to say, "I do!" with the conviction that lasted. This person's spouse counted themselves blessed for the prize that they had found. And of course there were fights and arguments that sometimes lasted days. One argument seemed to be the last nail in the coffin of marriage...until, as though no nail had ever been hammered, the lid flew off and love rushed in. Looking back the couple could admit fault and would hold each other tenderly and exchange deep thank you's for the other's compromise.

This person also had the most beautiful of children. Children can be physical and metaphysical, most often they are both. This person's true children were those who saw the hard work, the love, the denial of defeat, the perseverance and said, "I will do it like they did it." Those children took a piece of this person and grafted it into their very heart so that none of the struggles or triumphs would be lost. Instead these children nurtured it and allowed it to grow into themselves leaving them forever changed. Grafting in the very essences of this person.

When this person passed, not everyone you thought should show up did, and a few that you didn't know would or didn't think would, they did. And the passing of this person marked a significant loss for many. But as detrimental as the loss was, this person's children, with the grafted courage would survive. They'd grit their teeth, offer of a thanks and turn and stare down the next storm as to say, "NOT TODAY! TODAY IS NOT THE DAY I GIVE IN!"

In time this person's headstone will be toppled, turned to dust, and what physically remained will become dirt once more. But still in hearts too numerable to count, beats a heart with grafted courage, grafted love, grafted joy all because of this person.

So who is this person?
It's you!
And as only a time-traveling wizard can, brought this to your attention from the future, written a day after your death.

And you are needed now more than ever!

Follow @PhilipBateson (Hit me up if you need to talk)

In dedication to the man I call dad. His love has been grafted in many hearts. And for all the struggles he endured that I have sadly, taken for granted. I love you dad.