In Memory and Merry Christmas

This week we got a call. One of those calls you never hope to receive but cannot avoid. A longtime family friend had passed away in November and his wife had wanted to let us know. We first met Timo the Clown at our county fair when I was very young. I am fondly reminded of those summers when I clean my desk and find ribbons and photographs from the hula-hoop contests. My parents tend to make friends with people that we often come across, and Timo quickly became a close family friend. I still smile when I remember one of my birthday parties at the park where he let me drive the clown car—I remember feeling like the coolest kid alive. Years later, we had not seen the family but kept in touch during the holidays. Timo and his wife had sent me an email this summer asking how I was doing and about college. The correspondence was miraculously well timed, as I was in Rome and able to send them this blog and catch up with them. Even though we had not seen them in years, it was hard to hear of his passing. I remember him as a person who simply cared about people, with a heart big enough to hold the entire universe. His wife said that he was always watching over me from above and I believe it. He is there, along with others who have moved on from this life. When I consider that group I realize that I have the best guardian angels out there.

If Timo’s life and death taught me anything… well they taught me a few things. First, love everyone. Our hearts are perfectly designed to hold enough love for everyone. Everyone is worth our time and our love. Next, go out of you way to make someone’s day. I guarantee you, whatever energy you expend will be paid back tenfold. Finally, if you have an odd feeling that you should send someone an email, send him or her a text or give them a call, do it. It may be something that they really needed or it could be something they fondly look at when they miss you.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and my wish is that it is shared with at least one person that they love more than life itself. I am blessed; surrounded by love to say the least.
Again, I have been bad at keeping up the blog so I have decided to make a New Year’s resolution out of it. I will attempt to blog once a week (probably with the deadline of Wednesday or Sunday night) and blog anything else as I feel like writing.
I stumbled upon Timo’s facebook page while looking at his memorial online. I want to end this post with one the quotes on his page, “Whenever you see someone who doesn't have a smile give them one of yours”. Merry Christmas.