here is that anguish turned into words...
Tomas
I want to say
thank you.
Thank you for all
the lives you’ve made brighter, all the people you’ve made smile and laugh and
the family you made proud.
When I was a
child, you were my brother. The boy who taught me how to play and laugh and
smile. The boy who shared in all my childish antics, you were my partner in
crime. You taught me how to ride my
first bike, how to play football. We spent summer days in the water and the
trees, winter days in the snow and everyday in between playing games of make
believe and adventure.
When I became a
teenager, you were my protector. The man who saved me from the bullies of life
and who always reminded me how smart I was, that one day I would be the boss of
all those bullies. You watched out for me like only family does. And as I grew,
you took your step back and let me become my own person.
When I went to
college, you told me how proud you were of me, that you always knew id go far.
But by then I was an adult and it became my turn to be proud of you. You went
to start a new life in America. Your dream come through. Still playing the
great game, you knew just how to impress everyone on both sides of the
Atlantic.
And even though I
grew up and didn’t need you as much, you never gave up your protective ways.
You were always
the brother, the protector, the friend to your sisters and brothers.
You treated Tara
and Claire like princesses, the two most important girls in your life. You
always watched over them like their white knight, ready to jump in and rescue
them when things in life got too scary.
You treated Eunan
and Daryl like little men, mini versions of yourself. You were a role model for
them, someone they could always look up to.
You were a son
that any mother would be proud of. A
friend that anybody would be glad to call their best.
You will always
be a brother, a friend, a protector and a son. You have done such good in your
life.
And even though it fills our hearts with pain
and our lives with sorrow in the here and now, we have to hold on and know that
you will continue to do good.
You will always
be an influence, someone that people can look up to and respect.
You will always remind people of the true
value of friendship and how important family is.
And even though
the world only got but a brief wink of time with you, if we can look back on it
and smile or laugh or share a funny story then that time was the most precious
gift and we should all be grateful for it.
