MIKE

1967-2006

Until we meet again!
Do not stand beside my grave and cry
I am not there I did not die
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glint in snow
I am the gold in ripened grain
I am a gentle autumn rain
When you awake in the morning hush
I am that swift uplifting rush
of circled birds in quiet flight
I am that bright star that shines at night
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there I do not sleep. 

When Bette asked me about saying a few words today I was honoured. Then I thought how do you sum up a life in a few words ...
Of course you can't.
Michael will be forever remembered as the blue eyed, blond haired kid. His hair standing on end and beside him this lunatic cocker spaniel. The dog belonged to my dad, Mike's grandfather but in reality the dog belonged to Mike. Those of us that knew Tootsie were quite convinced the dog was insane. It didn't matter to Mike, despite the dogs lack of brains and the fur balls hanging off its hide Mike and Tootsie loved each other. Bette, Michael and Eddy would come and spend the summers with grandpa and I am sure that Tootsie would pine all winter for those hot blissful summer days when Michael would return.
Those summers were special for me also. Michael taught me to look up towards the heavens. At night we would go outside and look upwards towards the heavens. Mike would point out the Big Dipper, Cassiopeia, Orion and the Northern Cross and the shooting stars. He was 20 years younger than me but on those nights he was the teacher and I was the student. This continued right up into Mike's adulthood.
Mike loved his history and especially the civil war. He joined a re-enactment troop, outfitted himself in the gear of the era and spent a lot of summers bringing to life the glories and feats of yesteryear.
There is so many, many memories and so little time. Going back to Canada one time ... Michael was driving with me. The customs officer asked me if I had any firecrackers, firearms or ammunition. Of course not I answered confidently. Then inquired about the young lad with me ... who he was? who would be responsible for him during his stay in Canada. Not satisfied with our answers they made us go to the office. All of the questions were then directed to Mike ... Where to you life son? the officer asked ... The United States of America Mike answered ... Could you be more specific? Churchville, N.Y. Mike answered. What do you do he was asked NOTHING Mike answered ... Must be nice the officer countered. Noticing the Mike was sweating bullets I said to him "Mike calm down the officer is only doing his job, we're not breaking any laws so we have nothing to worry about. Back in the car Mike informed me about the hoard of firecrackers he was bringing into Canada.
Eddy I know that you're in pain. You and Mike had a special bond that only brothers have and only brothers appreciate.
Tammy I know that you and Mike didn't click very good at the start .... probably because Mike felt you were taking his brother away from him ... but he came to love you like a sister and that you were.
Amanda and Jonathan believe me when I say "Your uncle Mike" adored you both!
Jayme, thank you for being Mike's best friend ... he was blessed to have a pal like you!
 
 
Donnie and Bette, you should both be proud that you raised such a decent, honest, hardworking, son. Michael's only fault was his naiveté. He believed everyone should be given a fair shake. He always believed in the goodness of people. Everyone was a "good guy" as far as Mike was concerned. If there was no goodness evident in a person Mike would go searching for it.
He loved the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Montreal Canadians and Formula One Racing. Most of all he loved to tease. When his father would tell him about hardships in his youth, Mike would say "Oh yeah dad you'd walk up hill both ways to school in the winter time with your feet wrapped in paper towels or he would say his mother would clean house before the cleaning lady got there so the house wouldn't be dirty.
Mike was not only my nephew, when he was younger he was like a little brother .... when he got older he was a good friend. There is a hole in my heart now but already it is filling with love and sweet memories and I know that between the Good Lord, Mike's grandpa's, grandma's his uncles Herbie, Elmer and Bobby, his aunts Edie and Ann, Mike is now in good hands ... Don't fight with your uncle Bob Mike!

Lawrence Stafford

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps;
His day is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His day is marching on.

I have read a fiery Gospel writ in burnished rows of steel;
“As ye deal with My contemners, so with you My grace shall deal”;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with His heel,
Since God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Since God is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet;
Our God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Our God is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free;
While God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! While God is marching on.

He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is wisdom to the mighty, He is honor to the brave;
So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of wrong His slave,
Our God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Our God is marching on.

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