How to say goodbye…

Saturday brought some grave news to my doorstep: my friend Joe, who has been a part of my life for the last 5 years, died on Friday. He wasn’t sick and he hadn’t been doing something risky or stupid. He just had the misfortune of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. His death was sudden and senseless; nobody quite knows how to cope…I am no exception.

Joe wasn’t my best friend, nor was he someone I spent time with on a regular basis, but he was always a good friend to me. He gave me advice, made me laugh, and inspired me more often than not. What’s more, he was the kind of person who made an impression on everyone he met. Anyone in the Sacramento dance today knew Joe, either personally or by reputation, and could probably tell an amusing story or two about him. There was no one quite like him, and its unlikely any of us will know his equal again. He was just… Joe.

The truth is there is no way to say goodbye. That chance has been taken away. There’s no more time to tell him how much he impacted each of our lives. But we can remember all those moments spent with him, and cherish the fact that we knew him at all.