Remembering Murray

Today was the funeral service for my dear friend, Murray. It was a hard day, but I am so pleased I was able to go and pay my respects to a man I had nothing but respect for.

Murray was one of my late husband’s dearest friends from university and became a dear friend of mine after Paul died. He made these past few years of my life a little bit brighter – just by the unwavering friendship he gave me.

Murray cared, and he let his caring nature be known. He made me feel important. He made me feel as if I mattered and as if Paul mattered. For that, I will always treasure him. He reached out to me with pure friendship and I will never forget that about him. He was, and always will be, one of my favourite people in this world – and in the next. I am humbled and honoured that Murray called me a friend – and humbled and honoured to have called him mine.

Murray’s passing is a great loss to me – and a great loss to the world. He was the most generous and genuine man I’ve ever known, and I am proud to call him my friend. I will miss him forever. My only consolation is knowing that he and Paul have met again to enjoy the afterlife ahead of my arrival. And they better save some of the good whisky for me!

He is gone

By David Harkins

You can shed tears that he is gone
Or you can smile because he has lived

You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back
Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see him
Or you can be full of the love that you shared

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday

You can remember him and only that he is gone
Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on 

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back
Or you can do what he would want: smile, open your eyes, love, and go on.