Posted on 12/14/2001 8:01:03 AM PST by Rebelbase
My best friend, Rick, died of a cerebral hemorage early this morning. Talk about shock. I am numb.
Its funny how things happen. We had a party at Rick's last night, about 10-12 of us. Rick was in rare form, doing lip-sinc to the Harry Connick, Jr. Chrismas CD and throwing in Michael Jacksonesqe leg kicks and Elvis hip swings as he "directed" the band behind the singer. He was happy. The joke were flowing....Rick: "You know, Alexander Graham Bell invented the phone, Do you suppose his phone number was 1 ?"
I left at 8:30 to take my kids home, the party continued. At 10:45 my phone rings, a friend tells me Rick is at the hospital. He started complaining of headache and went into his office room by himself. A few minutes later someone went to check on him and he was sprawled on the floor. By the time the paramedics got him to the hospital he was on a respirator. He passed on around 6:30 this morning.
Rick was one person who believed in me when I did not believe in myself. Five years ago I was a broken man after going through a soap opera divorce. I stumbled into a small shopping center church one night, at the end of my rope. The message was good and the people friendly. I was befriended by the jolly keyboard player, rick, and we soon became fast friends. We played practical jokes on people in the church and got paidback bigtime. I weasled my way into a band that Rick had started and soon I was playing there and along side Rick in the Church's praise team. We have played music together for nearly 5 years now.
Rick was my best and most trusted friend who had a heart bigger than ET.
18 hours ago we were having an outstanding time together. Now he is gone. You never know what tommorow brings. I know that Rick is free now. He has been released from everything on this earth that weighed him down, nagged and tormented him.
He has been set free and is now dancing in worship with God and his Angels....That's just like him.. He got there before I did.
I love you Rick, we'll catch up with each other later.
Your Pal,
G.
I had a dear friend who always said he wanted to go out dancing. It was his mantra whenever the subject of dying came up. And he ended up doing exactly that: He had a heart attack on the dance floor one Saturday night.
I know the great loss you are feeling, but please know that Rick is still with you and always will be.
And since your dear friend 'beat ya' to his mansion, you should be certain he and Jesus will have quite a bash planned when it's YOUR/our time.
Every time you feel sad and missing Rick, may you turn around and find the Lord standing there for you.
I can only hope and pray that, when I go Home to be with the Lord, that someone will write such a wonderful remembrance of me.
You were blessed to have him as a friend, but he was equally blessed to have you.
15 posted on 12/14/01 9:09 AM Pacific by RightOnline
All I can add is an "Amen" to that.
Peace to you, brother. You know, the kind that surpasses all understanding.
It sounds like you have many wonderful memories of him to treasure--I hope you'll hang onto these memories, as they'll comfort you greatly in the future. Take care.
You will find yourself, in times of looking for answers or direction, saying, "What would Rick have done" or "this is what Rick would have done..." and will be a fuller person for having had his fellowship.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.