I just got back from a gathering of 2011 Grads that are part
of the youth program I run at my local church.
I thought for a laugh I would dig out some old pictures of me and the
“white man’s afro” look I had going on back in ’96.
I flipped through a few pages of my photo album and I was
reminded once again of a very special and beautiful person and my eyes welled
up.
Her name was Sarah. She passed away (through no one’s fault)
not long after our Graduation ceremonies in Valemount , BC
And I owe her a huge thank you.
I was a shy kid and didn't always fit
in. I played a lot of road hockey with the local guys and had a great home-schooled education but
when graduation time rolled around I realized I really didn’t have anyone my
own age to celebrate with.
Enter Sarah.
We had become good friends in the past few years and in the
kindness of her heart she must have realized the same thing because she started
inviting me to Grad meetings of the one and only public school in town.
I felt like I didn’t belong there but she insisted and I’m
not sure how she did it but before long I was neck deep in Grad planning,
fundraising etc.
Somehow I was invited to go along on the Dry Grad trip to
West Edmonton Mall and had the time of my life.
And in one of the most special memories, I was somehow
invited to take part in the public school grad ceremonies – even though I had
never taken a class there in my life.
I went to Kamloops
These are deep precious memories and I owe so much of them,
if not all of them, to my friend Sarah.
She made me feel included and important. Her kind and
thoughtful heart and bubbly personality will never be forgotten by me or anyone
who knew her.
She was taken from us early and I do not pretend to know all
the reasons why. But I am glad that I knew her and that she knew me.
My sincere hope is that one day I will get to tell Sarah in
person what I was never really able to convey at the time – Thank you Sarah.
Thank you for making a difference in my life.
Joe
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