IN REMEMBRANCE
Gerry, Tamara, Diane, and myself, in California the summer before last.
(This post was inked by hand in remembrance of my friend Gerry on January 17th)
My friend died last night…
When my wife answered the phone it was with apprehension, I could tell in her voice. The way she asked, “What?” gave me that feeling of a bowling ball dropping to the bottom of my gut – the type that lands so hard on the hips that your knees almost buckle.
If I had any hope that it wasn’t grim news, it melted into the kitchen floor as my wife did too… knees first.
“But I was just there, his vitals and stats were stable?” she countered the voice on the other end of airwaves back at the hospital.
My wife the nurse had literally just left there and had just walked in the door. She stayed till almost nine o’clock until she was sure Gerry was stable and improving.
We are an odd lot. Our friends live in a country club in a home I built them, that’s how our paths crossed and lives became intertwined. Gerry was a wildly successful lawyer, the kind that could talk his way in or out of anything. He could have sold heaters in the dead of summer in the middle of the desert and have folks whipped into a frenzy and bickering over the last one.
I’ve only met a couple of people in my life that could talk to folks from all walks of life and relate to all of them in a personal way. Gerry could strike a conversation with homeless folks as well as royalty. He’d been just about both at one time or another in his colorful life.
Gerry was also the charismatic person that could say things to people in pure honesty and not have them too offended… He could put together the type of words that I’d never dream of and get away with a smile, the type of words that would get me slapped or punched.
If the old adage, “Behind every good man there’s a good woman”, has merit, then Gerry’s wife, Tamara would be the epitome of that statement.
“You’ve been good to me… better than I deserve… I love you,” was one of the last things Gerry told his loving companion of forty-five years. Tamara told me that through a torrent of tears… I couldn’t help but shed some of my own. For the loss of my friend who treated my family and me like royalty… and for my friend Tamara, who is left to pick up the pieces and push on…
Gerry wasn’t perfect – he’d be the first to tell you that, but then again none of us are…
Based on a conversation Gerry had with my wife shortly before he drew his last breath, I believe I’ll be seeing Gerry again… how soon only God knows.
If we get to wear halos in heaven, you’ll be able to spot Gerry right off… he’ll be the one sporting the fanciest one…
In loving memory of my friend Gerry Sellers.
Sunday, January 25, 2015 @ 6:16 pm
Floyd,
This is a wonderful tribute to your friend. Good friends are hard to come-by. You know, somehow, you just make that connection and it is as natural as breathing. Sometimes, you feel like you’ve known that friend forever…. I think A.A. Milne words capture the golden thread of friendship: “If ever a day comes when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart, I’ll stay there forever.” I’ll keep both of your families in my thoughts and prayers. Cynthia
Sunday, January 25, 2015 @ 6:31 pm
Tributes made to friends of a legacy left behind are words which touch the heart and make a person wish they knew that person. I wish I had known Gerry. Wonderful tribute Floyd. Sorry to hear about the loss of a friend.
Sunday, January 25, 2015 @ 6:45 pm
Sorry for your loss… Praying for his family.
Sunday, January 25, 2015 @ 7:01 pm
I am sorry for you to lose a good friend and for his wife too. May you all be comforted by the angels. I am so glad Diane could speak to Gerry about his soul and to know that He was right with God. When all seems well, that kind of news does hit the back of your knees and causes them to bend. Your beautiful tribute to him brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing this awesome post.
Sunday, January 25, 2015 @ 7:17 pm
I’m sorry for your loss, Floyd. Lifting up prayers of comfort for your family, as well as Tamara. May you all find peace in his passing. Blessings.
Sunday, January 25, 2015 @ 7:33 pm
Oh, no, Floyd! I am SO deeply sorry. I write this in tears, as I can so relate to your pain. This world is so full of good-byes, heartaches, and tears, but praise God, one day we will feel these pains no more! I am so glad to know your dear friend was ready to meet Jesus, and someday you will be reunited with him, by God’s grace. Losing such close, precious, intimate friends really makes us so much more aware of our own mortality, doesn’t it? God be with you and hold you and Diane and Tamara and all who grieve Gerry’s passing very close to His loving heart. I am praying for all of you.
Sunday, January 25, 2015 @ 8:04 pm
You have written a warm remembrance of your friend. I do not know him, but I sense a person of many facets from your words, now gone dark from our world. The bright beacon in eternity you sense for him crowds out some of the shadows of grief his family must feel. Your posts so often teach us life lessons, big and small. Today you teach us about loss and how to capture understanding. Thank you for that.
Sunday, January 25, 2015 @ 8:15 pm
I haven’t lost a close friend in quite a while now, but I still remember the sting as if it were yesterday in some cases – then I play the tape all the way through, and remember I’ll be seeing them again – that takes the sting back to manageable levels. Remember that we’ll all see one another again in the biggest family reunion, and that should be like a balm as well, brother.
Sunday, January 25, 2015 @ 8:18 pm
I woke u to a text message a couple of days ago… My friend let me know that her dad was failing fast and that hospice said he only had a couple of days, if that. WE had been believing for his Salvation. He was welcomed into Heaven around 4pm that day and slipped on out of his body. These times are always rough on us. I’m glad he had you and your wife as faithful friends. I’m sure your wrote your post through tears. Thank you for the heartfelt post.
Sunday, January 25, 2015 @ 8:46 pm
Floyd and Diane
I am so sorry to hear of this. I had the pleasure of meeting t
Gerry and Tamara at your home. They were both so kind. I know that
this loss will be difficult but know that prayers and love come your way.
Sunday, January 25, 2015 @ 9:04 pm
So sorry for the loss of your friend. What a great tribute to him.
Sunday, January 25, 2015 @ 10:06 pm
Prayers for you in This loss. For us guys, friends are hard to come by. I hope you find peace
Monday, January 26, 2015 @ 1:01 am
So sorry Floyd. We also lost our mother this past Friday morning.
Monday, January 26, 2015 @ 3:48 am
What a wonderful tribute to your friend Floyd, but knowing you I would expect nothing less. Sorry for you and Diane’s loss.
Monday, January 26, 2015 @ 5:00 am
So sorry for your loss, Floyd, and so thankful for the gift God gave you of Gerry’s friendship.
Monday, January 26, 2015 @ 8:22 am
Very sorry yo hear about the loss of your good friend. Good friends are hard to come by (for some of us anyway) and true friendships are a blessing to be treasured. And the loss of a good friend leaves a void in the heart but God can fill it if we let Him. The hope of seeing our friends again when we’re called home can carry us in those moments when we miss them most all the while being under-pinned by God’s love and grace that carries us through each day …
God bless you Floyd and my prayers go out to Tamara during this difficult time …
Monday, January 26, 2015 @ 9:29 am
I’m sorry for your loss, Floyd. Good friends are hard to come by, and even harder to lose. I’m glad to hear you will see him again one day. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Monday, January 26, 2015 @ 11:20 am
I’m sorry for your loss Floyd. In the past two weeks we’ve had 4 people we know of pass away…two of them moms.
While we mourn our loss of them, we must remember that Jesus gives His children a great home coming. He cries tears of joy even as we cry tears of healing pain.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Monday, January 26, 2015 @ 12:03 pm
These times are sad but joyous at the same time. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
Monday, January 26, 2015 @ 3:44 pm
I’m sorry you lost your friend now… BUT when YOU are in heaven, you two can hang out together through the Lord for eternity. That’s what I count on, day-by-day, since I’ll be with my parents, family I’ve never officially met, and friends and others I’ve wondered about for many years. Again, I’m sorry your heart is broken. Your spiritual heart will be filled with joyfulness eventually and forever. Thanks for sharing, dear Brother.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015 @ 7:37 pm
Hope brings joy in the middle of grief. So sorry brother about your friend, I will be praying for his wife who I am sure will need some looking over for a while.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015 @ 8:07 pm
An honoring tribute to your friend Gerry, Floyd. I’m sorry for your loss. What grabbed me most about Gerry’s traits that you mentioned here was his ability to talk respectfully and honoringly to any and everyone, you said. That’s a neat character.
Thinking of you and your wife as you grieve a good friend,
Jennifer Dougan
http://www.jenniferdougan.com
Wednesday, January 28, 2015 @ 9:01 pm
So sorry you lost your friend. Sounds like he was a wonderful man who lived life deeply. Saying a prayer tonight for your family and Gerry’s.
Friday, January 30, 2015 @ 9:49 am
Floyd,
What a beautiful and humorous tribute to Gerry. I’m so sorry for your loss. I pray God comforts you, his wife Tamara and your wife Diane.
Monday, February 2, 2015 @ 7:49 am
Floyd, my heartfelt sympathies to you, and to Gerry’s family at this most difficult time. Of all the things that happen in life, death is the most shocking. It was just over a year ago that I lost my dad, and I’m still trying to deal with it. Only the Lord can bring us comfort – only Him who experienced death and conquered it.
Gerry sounds like a wonderful person, and I’ll gladly look for him on the other side! Sounds like he just might be the type of person to be sitting at the pearly gates greeting the new arrivals!!
Bless you.
Saturday, February 14, 2015 @ 4:49 pm
My sympathies and condolences to you, your wife and Gerry’s wife. Praying for all of you as you navigate this rough road.
What a wonderful tribute to Gerry. I can see you love him a lot and I know you will rejoice when you meet him again.
Blessings brother.