John's family went to the Cub's game to celebrate his birthday. He would've been 38 this year. Here's a message from John Sr:
Just a quick up date on how John's Birthday at Cubs Park turned out. It was tough inside our hearts for all of us but as John would have wanted we all had fun laughing and cheering and bringing those Cubs in with a victory. We met at the new Ernie Banks statue which is only a few feet from the brick with John's name on it. John would have loved these seats as we were so close to the catcher we all helped the umpire call the balls and strikes ( in our favor of course) We raised our cups and glasses many times in memory of John. Strange things are happening at Wrigley this year and if John is on the job to help get them to the World Series then we better order the tickets now... There are many many fathers that are proud of their sons but I know one thing for sure that there is not one father prouder of their son than I am of mine!
Here's the picture of John's brick:
8 comments:
Hey John Sr. -- good show, may they always have a game on his birthday...
Today is one year that John has been gone.
A year ago, we got the phone call, we paused like we always do for more trivial information, and we heard the news, not the kind of news that sinks in quickly, that John was lost to us. All the importance fell from the incumbent imperatives that day, schedules that had no gaps became open, and we went to Illinois and had a big party in John's honor.
The very last thing I heard from John was on Thanksgiving 2007, as I was getting off the bus at the Germaine's Luau in Hawaii, I got a text message from John on my phone that said "it's snowing here". I never responded. Too much was going on and I was about to announce my engagement to my own and my girlfriend's parents. Of course I knew John would be available later, and I could text him back, when I had time. Of course, I thought that I had more than three weeks. I knew that he wouldn't mind, since I was in the middle of something. I wish I had said something really funny, and made him laugh, but I didn't know what could wait, ultimately and what couldn't.
I'll always know that it was snowing in west Chicagoland on Thanksgiving 2007. And I'm the exact date of John's passing will probably fade, over time, but I will think of him on Thanksgiving...
Brother-In-Law
DAW
This I believe
I sat in front of the computer for a while and finally turned it off. I drove to school, the store and home again wondering what it is that I believe. Four years ago on December 14th my husband was killed instantly in a car crash. You may wonder what this has to do with an essay about what I believe, but that moment, that instant changed my entire life.
I believe in happiness.
I am sure that sounds odd when you first hear it. My story is of sadness and lost opportunity and broken hearts. Still the last four years have been a journey along which I have come to understand that happiness is a way of being.
I believe we can be happy.
I read a poem about how many minutes we have in the average lifetime to actually be. Once you subtract the minutes for working, driving to and from work, sleeping, eating, doing chores, there are not many minutes left to ponder what we want out of life. My husband’s death lingers in everything I do. I use the apparition to remind myself to count the minutes. Stop for a moment. Look at the sunset. Watch my dogs lie in the sun.
I believe dogs know true happiness.
My husband lived every day fully and accomplished great things in the 37 years that he was on this Earth. I believe he is happy now. I believe he knows that I try to be happy, but that I still miss him every one of those minutes.
I believe everyone deserves happiness.
He speaks to me now and then, through whispers, unexpected rainbows in the clouds, a Mr. Boffo cartoon. He was warm like a blanket and comfortable like your favorite pajamas. Sometimes when I am sad I feel like he is there still like a warm blanket, cozy around me trying to soothe the sorrow.
I believe he hates it when I am sad.
It has been four years today since I last saw his smiling face, since I last heard his voice or felt his embrace. I give myself permission to be sad today. To feel like I felt four years ago. To remember how much I miss him.
I believe the other 364 days I should try to live with a happy heart.
I try to live a life that he would be proud of. I try to fill the unfillable void for his mother, sister, niece and nephew. I remember the good times, the happy times and focus on all the great things he accomplished.
I believe I will see him again one day.
That we all will see him and we will wonder why we ever had to be so sad.
This I believe.
Merry Christmas John. I love you.
Heather
Hello Heather and All Friends and Loved Ones of John,
I am so saddened to learn of John's passing. John and I worked closely together at the young, emerging start-up, CacheFlow. Early-on at CFLO I had the pleasure of participating in a customer installation in Minnesota with John. John's technical and sales capabilities placed him in the upper echelons of CSE's, period. Yet I found John's personality his strongest trait - one that I will never forget. John truly was one of the most like-able and endearing individuals I've had the honor to know, with a smile that was captivating.
Today I am at a new-start-up company, and as we initiated our search for a CSE in the Central Region my thoughts immediately turned to John, which is how I came about this sad news. I shall forever remember John as my friend and my colleague - the Sept. 2007 picture on this site is exactly how I'll remember John and our relationship. I am a better person for having interacted and been a part of John's life.
Take care,
Dirk Campbell
The Cubs are going to the World Series John, I'm sure you watched it all so far. Reminds me of when you set up the projector in the living room and we had life sized cubs on the wall. I hope you have the best seats in the house. I love you, I'll keep my fingers and toes crossed for the cubbies.
Won game 2. Headed home to Wrigley for 3,4,5. See you there. Love, Heather
Game 7 John, have worn your jerseys all week. Cubs are in fire. I know you have the best seat in the house. We love you. Heather
Wooooooooo hooooooooo! Cubs win in game 7, 10th inning. I KNOW you are there!! Love you, Heather
I can't believe its been 10 years, since John has been gone. It still feels like yesterday. December 14th still hits me like a ton of bricks. I can only barely imagine how it hits my sister. I just try to remember him and the fact that I got to know him and that it was one of the great occurrences in my life to get a chance to know my brother-in-law. He was and is a good man. Thank you John, for being more than a brother-in-law to me. I dearly wish my husband had gotten to know you, he is a good man too. I try to remember you as I push myself to go after a dream of mine instead of sitting on the sidelines. I have spent too many years on the sidelines. Life is sometimes too short, but remembering to LIVE life while we have it, is a task that we all take on everyday. Remember to tell the ones you love that you DO! Cherish every moment of every day and try not to be sad all the time when remembering John, he definitely loved life and was passionate about it. I will always remember you in the little things that come up from time to time, especially this time of year when I reflect on the day we lost you. You are not forgotten, even thought we get caught up of the pace of life, you will always be are part of it just like you were a part of our life's. Thanks for being a part of our lives.
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