Dear friends. I am back from sitting shiva for my brother-in-law who died on May 2 at the age of 47.
He left wife and 6 years old daughter, parents and sister (my wife), and many-many friends in America, Ukraine, Israel and Greece.
He came to the US 15 years ago from the old, stinky Soviet Union, started his own small business after a few years, and was happy to have nobody as his boss. He was suffocating the last years in the USSR and was happy to get here. He was a rebellious Jew, loving guns and cigars, coffee and cognac (Metaxa was his favorite). He easily made friends, and was eager to help without being asked. Not surprisingly he had so many friends, because he touched so many. He rarely complained on anything and died totally unexpectedly from a massive heart attack. So many friends came, drove and flew in or called in from a far to share the loss with his family.
He loved, loved life, loved his wife, his daughter was the center of his universe and he was the same for her.
Family and friends, we all are grieving for our dear Mike. Rest in peace, my friend and brother.
Tolik.