R.I.P Gran & Pappy <3 They are not far - no further away than the morning is to the promise of day. Than the stars to the night than the sun to the sky They are not far - this is not goodbye. Ê They are not far - They are always near in the memories that you hold most dear. In the hearts that still care, in the love that goes on... They will never be far, They will never be gone. Ê You will be forever in our hearts <3 Ê Love your Grandaughter Gail.xxxx Ê R.I.P
RIP Forrest Smith This is for my little brother Forrest "Rusty" Smith, a red haired ex-Marine and veteran of the first Gulf War, who died of cancer at age 41 died last Sunday morning at 1am after succumbing to kidney, liver and brain cancer... To the tune of Rod Stewart's "Rythm of my Heart" In the distance my Air Force Military Basic Training Drill Instructor very strictly commands... "EP---OO---EE---AR, HUP 2-3-4...FORWARD HUA !!!" And in perfect lock step Rusty's Marine Corps Drill Instructor somewhere in the distance echoes back..."EP--OO--EE--AR, EFT, EIGHT, EFT -- HUA !!!" Strong, slow, and deliberate military ceremonial salutes are exchanged with all due military honors as we pass at sunset... 7 rifles fire 3 times... Dear Rusty, Our time was short together, but I wanted to you know that I loved you as a brother and always will. I know we had our moments and you didn't talk to me for the last 7 years of your life and even then, mom didn't allow me to contact you, so all I have to say is this farewell without ever having the chance to see you again just like when my dad suddenly died 7 years ago...I hope you did not suffer to long... I have long since forgiven you for what happened the day after my dad died, I can only hope you can forgive me...I promise to take care of your sons if that is what you wish me to do, just give me a sign and I will take the flag in your honor. I hope I will be as good a father as you were to them...Semper Fi -- Aim High. And, I hope you will go see Dad and tell him that I love him and someday we'll be there in heaven together as brothers and sons... I prayed for you everyday for that last two weeks and spoke with Mom a few times to see if I could call you or come see you one last time. It is with a profound sense of sadness l have to wonder -- why did you have to die at 41 ? I feel like I have lost a friend, that I could never reach out to, like you somehow floated away and I'm kind of on a boat in the middle of this big ocean all by myself, floating around with just my soul... I want you to know, Mom misses you very much. We were all saddened by your loss. Everyone keeps asking me if I finally got a chance to talk to you, but I had to tell them I couldn't get ahold of you, because Mom wouldn't let me...I want you to know that afterwards, somehow, thanks to you, my mother and I are now talking after nearly a decade of silence...I suppose it's a lesson learned for Mom to learn to love both of her kids equally... I know you're out there somewhere and want you to know that you were loved. Mom and Dad, and my family and me...When you were in the Marines and went to war in Kuwait, I want you to know I was there constantly watching your back. I want you to know that I took my job very seriously back then and gave my 110% to make sure you were protected. We fought as one, as brothers in arms and I want you to know there are some deep memories that go way back in my life in better times when times were good... - Like the first time I saw you after you were born in Mom's arms in the rocking chair... - And the one fight we had when I was young and stupid...I'm sorry. - How we played at Christmas and in the sandbox in front of the garage with our friends down the street... - How we enjoyed smashing into each other on the bumper cars at Busch Gardens and racing go carts at Myrtle Beach... - How you grew up in that tiny room and playing back yard football and the saxophone... - When you just sat there and smiled as I wondered what was in that box beside your chair you and Dad had gotten...it was my new trumpet for band... - How we enjoyed playing mini-golf all day in Myrtle Beach and enjoyed star wars in the theater later on that evening... - And when you played on the Junior Varsity team and went un-scored on all the way to state... - When you got arrested for being drunk in the end zone at our high school football game, lol. - And when you visited me and my family in Japan in 96... - And we went to Hiroshima to visit the Japanese war memorial...Dad said, "don't smile for the pictures, it would be dishonorable..." - We enjoyed the thousand fire crackers you tied up to a tree during 4th of July and the company of our families in 2000 when I came home from the military. - And how you got me my first civilian job and taught me how to run servers which has led to a great career in IT... ...and there are many, many, many more memories...some I'm too proud to say here... Thank you for all the memories you have given me that I can remember and for the ones I keep remembering bit-by-bit, little-by-little, trickling out as time goes by without you...I'm sorry...But, no one should have to go on to outlive his younger brother...I'm always wondering -- how could God let me go on when I've made all these mistakes in life -- why did God take you instead ? I suppose only the good die young... Do not go gentle into this good night, for you are the biggest, baddest, meanest ******** in the land, you were a Marine and my little brother. "Oh the rhythm of my heart is beating like a drum with the words "I love you" rolling off my tongue No never will I roam for I know my place is home where the ocean meets the sky I'll be sailing The rhythm of my heart is beating like a drum with the words "I love you" rolling off my tongue Never will I roam for I know my place is home where the ocean meets the sky I'll be sailing" - Rod Stewart, Rythm of my Heart... Semper Fi -- Aim High... Joseph Smith
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