Hey, Dude.<\/p>\n
I know its tough when someone dies. You\u2019ve done that before but that was old people you knew would die. Different when it\u2019s somebody your own age, really different when it was one of your best friends.<\/p>\n
I know it was tough not being there. But truth be told, you learned a lot from handling this one on your own. Twenty, living alone in a small town, far away from family, friends. Your knack for solitude and introspection served you well when Johnny died.<\/p>\n
It may not seem like it, but you\u2019ll get passed it. And no, you won\u2019t forget him or the times you had together.\u00a0 I\u2019d also lie to tell you he\u2019ll be the last but he won\u2019t. Fortunately most of your friends stick around for a long time.<\/p>\n
Oh you\u2019ll lose your share, but it is who you expect; grandpa, the pseudo grandpas and grandmas.\u00a0 Not a lot of them totally unexpected.<\/p>\n
Until you\u2019re twenty-eight, and dad dies.\u00a0 That\u2019s the one that takes its toll. But the good news is, he left you with enough of a legacy that you\u2019ll take it, run with it. You\u2019ll be o.k.<\/p>\n
Oh yeah, he also leaves you with some secrets to unravel and in time, you will. Not that it won\u2019t cause some big ol\u2019 headaches along the way.\u00a0 You will discover some stuff about dad, and his family that may seem less than ideal. Don\u2019t be deceived by first impressions. Or at least, don\u2019t let them take control of the narrative.<\/p>\n
In the end you\u2019ll find it more amusing than tragic. At least I think you will. That one is still a work in progress, so I\u2019ll have t9o get back to you.<\/p>\n
Death will come easier for you than most, and that will make some folks uncomfortable. But you end up being the \u2018go to\u2019 guy for a lot of friends in crisis \u2013 and not just when one of the group dies.\u00a0 Take it as a compliment, because it turns out (much to your surprise) that people trust you.<\/p>\n
Strange as this may seem, you\u2019ll find comfort in being \u2018the man\u2019.<\/p>\n
There is so much more to tell you, but you\u2019re not even of legal age yet.\u00a0 But you will be soon, and the stuff you\u2019re going through now will all make sense in a big way \u2013 but not for a while.<\/p>\n
being an only child, you have become a master at figuring things out on your own, connecting the dots in a way a lot of others can\u2019t.\u00a0 Its part of that trust thing I mentioned earlier.<\/p>\n
It doesn\u2019t make sense now, but trust me \u2013 it will. And it will be so worth it.<\/p>\n
For now, keep living your life the way you have been. Take in the moments, bring the memories with you. Use them, don\u2019t abuse them.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s gonna be o.k.<\/p>\n
Later dude.<\/p>\n
Me, at 60<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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