This is a copy of what Mom read for John (her own words and an email a dear friend wrote about John) on Friday followed by words John wrote for us to share.
I am truly honored and
overwhelmed by the turnout. So
many of you have shared stories and pictures over the past few days A dear friend shared these thoughts.
" One thing that came to me as I pondered the "why" of this is that I
hope no one will ever say that he lost his battle to brain cancer.
Out of the blue brain cancer struck and he never stopped fighting. In the
process he accomplished so much - he showed people how to stand up to this
disease. He had a sense of the big picture - that brain cancer has to be
cured and he took up that fight. He raised money for research. He
shared through his blog and friendships so much information that will help
others appreciate life and know how to confront disease when it comes - and it
comes to everyone.
John Paul showed what family means - you all shine as examples of caring and
love.
So brain cancer lost a lot of rounds in this fight with John Paul. If he
gets to rest now, it is not because he lost the fight, it is because he has
accomplished enough for one cool guy to do.
Tears accompany this - John Paul is so young. But then I fear that he
accomplished more in his years than I have in mine."
John
was John. He left a lasting
impression on all of us. Even
though he never asked to be anyone’s inspiration or hero, he became just
that. He did it by living each day
…and in the past few years, living them with honesty and no regrets.
John left a few thoughts to
share with all of you, so I will read them uncensored….
Eulogy
I am so arrogant and so
controlling that yes I wrote my own eugoogly. I really wanted to say things. I’m not sure what the turnout looks like but I want to tell
all of you some of the guiding principles in my life. There are about 20 things I can say I did every day that
made me the way I am.
· • Laugh,
· • get under someone’s skin for sport,
· • make a
provocative statement which may be true,
· • tell a very descriptive story,
· • make a joke at someone else’s expense,
· • laugh,
· • cry,
· • get angry,
• over extend yourself,
• give unsolicited advice,
• get stressed for no reason,
• find one current event to form a crazy opinion on and
tell everyone you can think of,
• laugh,
• cry,
• and love the people in your life
Today you came for some
reason but I liked to think you’d be here to honor what I wanted. I had every right to not write a word
to anyone. I had every right to
not see anyone. And I had every
right to quit so long ago. I don’t
know who is here obviously, but I hope that whoever is here, and whoever wanted
to be here is what I imagined I left behind. And that is an army of people who knew that I loved them as
much as I could. Who will always
remember me as I hoped they would and not whatever I became as my mind wilted
away or as my strength disappeared.
And I’d also ask that when you shed tears, when you get angry or feel
agony, when you want to look at the sky with anger and want to shout, that
instead you use that energy to make a difference in a way that aligns with the
goal I have had all along. That
goal was to have people I met think they were a little better for having known
me. Guess I was the first one to
go to bed at this party but don’t worry I’ll see you all on the other
side. Count on it.
Good night sweet prince may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.