WORDS NEVER NEED TO BE SPOKEN

Instead of saying goodbye, say everything. Don't leave out a word. Everything encompasses it all. Every emotion, feeling, stutter of heartbeat, sweat of neck. It tells all. Any other word would leave something important out. Like the grasping of ones chest before a loved one gets on, or off, a plane. The look in a loved ones eyes when you have been gone for a long time, from across the block, or room. The smile that forces itself onto your face, as much as you try to hide it, when you hear good news about an old friend. The sweaty palms we all experience when waiting, patient people acting impatiently. Every person does it, we all just don't percieve it the way that it truly is. Goodbye means nothing. Goodbye is something that should be used merely for enemies, for goodbye means that you will never ever ever ever see that person again, thus warranting the harshness and complexity of the word goodbye. Goodbye is too final. Death is the final goodbye, but I like to see it as a vacation. One that eventaully all of us will be on. A nice cruise in the sky, where all the dead live, finally equal. No black white, east west controversy. Let us all live together as humans. Two years ago I lost one of my best friends to a fire, burned alive. At the time I was visiting my brother in Arizona (Flagstaff, to be specific). The night before my friend Mario and I had been on the phone for hours, discussing housing arrangements for the following year. Mario grew up with nothing, but gave everything. First to help me out, even when he himself needed the help. I agreed to pay 75% of the rent, and to cover him any month he was short. We were family, so I thought nothing of it. The call started at 9PM eastern, and lasted till about 12AM. We discussed existence, purpose, and girls. Always girls, pretty girls. I got the phone call at 4 AM. By 10 PM I was back, flying at a very high rate from arizona to pittsburgh. It was worth it. I made it in time for the funeral, where there were as many smiles as cries. For every tear, their was a laugh, and for every smile, their was a head turned down not wanting to give up. The funeral house was packed, people outside just to hear the eulogies. At least 10 of us gave our heart to anyone who wanted to take it, and listen. We talked about his richness of character, even though he was poor. We talked about his cleanliness of lifestyle, even though he could have used an extra shower now and then. He is in all of our hearts. He walks with me when I am alone, and gives good karma when I am out. We will be together with every step.

RIP MARIO

Learn more about this author, Jonathan Raney.
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