Just got this tear jerker letter from my brother, and I thought it might make a difference if I passed it on. If you care to write to Larry, feel free to e-mail me a letter & I will be happy to pass it on. I can be e-mailed at snipped-for-privacy@terbear.com Teri
Dear friend/family member/loved one, (sorry for the impersonal voice of this letter, but that made it easier to send out to a large quantity of people.and don't worry.you're all BCC'd) Well, it's not actually my birthday. but around our household, we consider it a "birthday". or a "rebirth"-day, if you will. for 17 years ago today, my life was nearly taken away from me, and I had to start all over again.
Well, needless to say, if you know me (which you obviously do) you know about the vats of lemonade I made. I think back over the past 17 years and realize what a joy it was to be around for them. The hundreds (seemingly thousands) of CDs that I have been around to hear and enjoy; the hundreds (seemingly thousands) of concerts I was around to enjoy (each one "specialer" than the next); and the hundreds (seemingly thousands) of people I have become friends with and have been a part of my life over the years (that includes YOU, o friend/family member/loved one).every last one making it all "worth it".
And against every odd, and every warning to the contrary, I managed to get my doctorate, and plan to do many great things. [two hurdles left.the licensing exam and Jurisprudence exam]
And yeah.along the way I kissed a few toads.but I did manage to find my soulmate (and she found me).and along with her came my opportunity to experience parenthood (and a great kid at that). Plus, I found my soul-dog, who for 10 years (and now, beyond), provided me with the most pink-tongue-lickin', black-tail-waggin', and big-heart-havin' canine love that has EVER been experienced.
I know this sounds like a lot of "back-patting" to some.but I feel I earned it. I learned 17 years ago that if you have something to say.say it. If you need someone to know you love them - tell them. If you have something you have been wanting to do but have been procrastinating.DO IT! You just never know what tomorrow will bring.
I ask just one simple thing of you. 15 seconds of your time (well.in addition to the 10 minutes you took to read this). Use that 15 seconds to think of how precious your life is and how glad you are to be alive..and what is good about your life (alright..that last thing might take more than
15 seconds, so do the Cliff's Notes version). Why 15 seconds?? Because that is the amount of time (I estimate) that transpired in the accident which altered my life (and nearly ended it). If I can take that time to alter my life..YOU can take that time to do something that may potentially improve yours.Thank you for being a part of my life, and accompanying me on this journey. It's not over yet. It has barely just begun. Two more years, and I will have lived in my "2nd life" longer than my "1st". I don't know why I got so reflective this year.but I guess it partly has to do with what I said before.about saying what it is you want to say.
I'm sending this out to as many people I find in my address book/previous recipients. I may not get to everyone, so if you have friends/family/loved ones whom I know but don't know how to contact.please share this with them.
Love/Sincerely/Later/Au Wiedersein- Larry