Dear Joshua,

Some time has passed and my heart is healing. It was very hard to say good-bye to you, especially being so far away. The day of your funeral there was a man playing the bagpipe outside the station. It was a fitting song.

That night we went to dinner and toasted you. I tried to say it myself but I got too choked up and Rory had to finish it off. Even writing about it now brings tears to my eyes.

We were in the middle of a great conversation you and I, which will have to wait some time to be finished. When I gave you that book and your 'license', I don't think either of us envisioned this road trip.

I came across this poem and I couldn't help but think of you. It's a shortened version.


Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end.
There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days.
All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else.

Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear.
So too, your hopes, ambitions, plans and to-do lists will expire.

It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant.

What will matter is not your success, but your significance.
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.

What will matter is not your competence, but your character.
What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone.
What will matter is not your memories, but the memories that live in those who loved you.

(An excerpt of 'What Will Matter' by Michael Josephson)

Jason, we think about you often and hope your heart is healing!