In an earlier
post, I wrote about Roger Rosenblatt's reflections in his book
Kayak Morning several years after the death of his adult daughter. In this book, Rosenblatt quotes the Irish short story writer, Sean Ó Faoláin, as saying "that 'and' was the most hopeful word in the English language."
It is five years ago today, also on Holy Saturday, that JW's physical life here on earth came to an abrupt end. Five years ago that our first born son, a truly loving, thoughtful and giving soul who always made the most out of what he had, died. It was five years ago that life as we knew it ended.
And ...
Five years later your life as you lived it continues to serve as an
inspiration to so many others. Your love for your family and friends and our love of you continues to have a powerful effect on so many others. Five years ago today my son, your earthly presence died ...
... and, on Easter Sunday 2007, your ultimate
gift of life through the donation of your organs to a number of individuals brought j
oy to so many families;
... and, from the day of your funeral service (three years to the day before the birth of your first niece), the story of how you lived the last week of your life (even though you did not know it was so) as recounted in your
eulogy, served as an impetus for reconciliation with estranged family members for several attendees;
... and, the memorial
technology funds established in your memory have raised over $100,000.00 and continue to have a positive impact on so many people;
... and, a tradition that every year celebrates your love of family and friends and camaraderie at the time of your birthday has touched the lives of hundreds of people as indicated
here,
here,
here,
here, and
here;
... and, you proved to be truly the BEST MAN at Mike & Gina's
wedding;
... and, you continued to fulfill the role of big brother and serve as a source of inspiration to your your younger
sister and
brother;
... and, from your heavenly perch, you fulfill you crucial role as
godfather to your niece, Ariana -- the first who gets to call you Uncle Johnny;
... and, through you mom's love and dedication, memories of you will keep members of current and future generations warm through the many
quilts made from your cloths;
... and, you have inspired your dad to continue to strive to make a difference in the world if only to contribute a sliver to help fill the void left behind by your untimely demise;
... and, our love of you is as strong and powerful as ever, and cannot be diminished, even by death;
... and ...
Fathers' Day is also significant in our joint lives in another special way. It was Fathers' Day, 1978 (34 years ago) that JW, his mom & I moved from Hillsborough, NJ to Chesterfield County, VA. Unlike his dad who lived in the same home from the time of his birth to when he moved out to be married, JW, like his siblings, lived a very peripatetic life. By Fathers' Day, 1978, less then two years after his birth, JW already lived in three residences. It would take two temporary residences in Virginia before we could move into our new home in Chesterfield. That was followed by a temporary residence in Maryland; followed by moving into a new home in Helen, MD; followed by a temporary residence in Brussels, Belgium; followed by living in Wezembeek-Oppem, Belgium for over three years; and then a return to Helen. It was from there that JW undertook his own wandering trail.
Today, for the first time, John's mom & dad went to a donor family gathering sponsored by the Washington Regional Transplant Community. It seems entirely fitting, five years later, to attend a gathering intended to recognize and remember the tremendous gift of life which JW and others made possible by the donation of their organs and tissues. We heard several donation recipients recount first-hand the impact such donations had on them and their families. JW, of course, has had a tremendous impact on others in so many different ways and we are glad to have had the opportunity to participate in honoring this one aspect of his legacy. Besides, there aren't too many other places where you can be surrounded by hundreds of people where being the parent of a deceased child is, unfortunately, the norm.
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Thanks to a very generous donation from John's Aunt Susie and Uncle John, as well as his brother Mike's loving decision to ask that his Christmas gift this year be a donation to John's memorial fund, the fund has now reached almost 90% of its goal. As a reminder, the purpose of this fund to support the upcoming World Assembly in Lima, Peru this October of the World Movement for Democracy, a
global network of democrats, including activists, practitioners, academics,
policy makers, and funders, who have come together to cooperate in the promotion
of democracy. More details on JW's fund can be found at this link.
