A letter from Gregory
My dear friends:
I hope this farewell note will ease some of the pain of our parting. As I write these words, my heart is filled with love, and as you hear these words, may you feel that love in your heart as well.
My life, like yours, has had its streaks of good and bad luck. My greatest luck has been the blessing of two wonderful sons, a caring mother, father, and brother, and a cherished circle of true friends.
Now all of you are here to celebrate the good fortune that brought us together. Our friendship and love has run its visible and tangible course. I have crossed over, made a change, run my earthly course to its end. Put it as you like, we now make our terrestrial farewell.
I am terribly sorry to have left you. I wanted to stay so badly. But all is peaceful now; there is no pain, and may that be solace for us all.
Once again, I would like to share a few things that I have learned through my illness. Perhaps you know these things already. I have been a slow learner however, and it has taken a harsh teacher to reveal these truths to me.
On the goodness of human beings: Most people, by far, want what is good for their fellow man, and will sacrifice greatly to do good. Trust in that. In the goodness of the human heart is reflected the love of God.
Know that happiness comes by finding and following your passion. Make sure that if your time comes, you are on the path of your own choosing, and surround yourself with people who encourage you to follow your dream.
Remember, it is always better to make a mistake being kind.
Never stop learning.
Wear sunscreen every day.
Always put your fingertips close to the frets.
Never forget how precious life is. I knew that my life would come to an end someday, but it seemed distant, impersonal. But death is very personal and surprisingly close at any time.
So, make the pleasures of your life close and personal as well. Look at the sunset and draw it in your mind, feel the colors, taste the changing light. Then seek out another sunset, or flower, or mountain, or seashore, or cloud, or breath of wind on your face.
I will be there to help you be 100% alive. We'll always meet in the mountains, in the forest in the late afternoon when it is full of liquid gold sunshine. The scent of oak, pine, and juniper permeates the air as the woods draw their whispering breath. I will be there.
Now, thank you to so many of my dear friends, and especially to you, my son James, that helped at the end. You saved me more than once and tried to save me once and for all. You held me, fed me, clothed me, gave me time from your life; you loved me, and I felt it every day and in the night.
Gregory
I hope this farewell note will ease some of the pain of our parting. As I write these words, my heart is filled with love, and as you hear these words, may you feel that love in your heart as well.
My life, like yours, has had its streaks of good and bad luck. My greatest luck has been the blessing of two wonderful sons, a caring mother, father, and brother, and a cherished circle of true friends.
Now all of you are here to celebrate the good fortune that brought us together. Our friendship and love has run its visible and tangible course. I have crossed over, made a change, run my earthly course to its end. Put it as you like, we now make our terrestrial farewell.
I am terribly sorry to have left you. I wanted to stay so badly. But all is peaceful now; there is no pain, and may that be solace for us all.
Once again, I would like to share a few things that I have learned through my illness. Perhaps you know these things already. I have been a slow learner however, and it has taken a harsh teacher to reveal these truths to me.
On the goodness of human beings: Most people, by far, want what is good for their fellow man, and will sacrifice greatly to do good. Trust in that. In the goodness of the human heart is reflected the love of God.
Know that happiness comes by finding and following your passion. Make sure that if your time comes, you are on the path of your own choosing, and surround yourself with people who encourage you to follow your dream.
Remember, it is always better to make a mistake being kind.
Never stop learning.
Wear sunscreen every day.
Always put your fingertips close to the frets.
Never forget how precious life is. I knew that my life would come to an end someday, but it seemed distant, impersonal. But death is very personal and surprisingly close at any time.
So, make the pleasures of your life close and personal as well. Look at the sunset and draw it in your mind, feel the colors, taste the changing light. Then seek out another sunset, or flower, or mountain, or seashore, or cloud, or breath of wind on your face.
I will be there to help you be 100% alive. We'll always meet in the mountains, in the forest in the late afternoon when it is full of liquid gold sunshine. The scent of oak, pine, and juniper permeates the air as the woods draw their whispering breath. I will be there.
Now, thank you to so many of my dear friends, and especially to you, my son James, that helped at the end. You saved me more than once and tried to save me once and for all. You held me, fed me, clothed me, gave me time from your life; you loved me, and I felt it every day and in the night.
Gregory
