Wednesday, January 23, 2008
I think that John is a man I met who called himself JP. I never knew his last name, but all of the descriptive identifiers make me believe that this is him. He lived in Goshen, was 33, and was born on October 14th; proud of his Irish heritage, and his silver Prelude.
He was an amazingly funny and compassionate person who never failed to make me laugh whenever we had the opportunity to talk.
I know he loved his girlfriend very much, as well as his parents and his sister, because he would speak from the heart about them, and felt he might have let them down.
The last time I saw JP was at the gas station right before the holidays, and he told me he was now driving for Visconti. I’ve tried to call him since reading this, but he doesn’t answer.
He always presented himself as a happy go lucky, life of the party, honorable, caring and kind man. I will miss his occasional call, but most of all, his smile and his spirit.
Bless you JP. I hope you know how many smiles you brought my way during the short time I knew you. I am so very sad to think that the world has lost you, who brought joy into the lives of so many others.
To the Ayrey and Smith families, and to Heather, if JP is your John Patrick, then please accept my deepest sympathy for your loss, for it is indeed tragic and far too soon. He touched the lives of every person’s path he crossed; we were blessed by his presence, and deeply saddened by his passing. May you find strength and comfort in your most treasured memories of him, and cherish the time you had together.
A dear friend
