Our stories are about our kids lives intertwining at Moundsview High School and reconnecting later over shared politics, religious journeys and having a daughter working on her PhD and our needing advice on how to support her.

I am humbly hesitant to write anything here but I know that the Longs are incredible humans who accepted us into their orbit.  The fact that they did though shows us who they are and what they stood for.  Even though we refer to Gary as the "the smartest person we know",  he looked at us as equals and having value and something to offer.  It wasn't something he did as a biblical edict  but as a personal value that all of us are worthy, even immigrant shopkeepers who dealt with him on a weekly basis whom Gary would learn their languages as a gesture of respect and belonging. 

We would ask Gary to explain the Bible to us since he was so knowledgeable and articulate and literally every time he would tip his head back and close his eyes and explain his views as if he was in the classroom.

I looked at Gary and Kathryn as marriage mentors since they met so young and navigated all that life had given them together lovingly and respectfully.  In addition, they loved and accepted their adult children as they were and did not judge or push expectations. 

One time when our sons were in high school together we received a call from Gary that his shoes disappeared the previous night that Alan had several friends over to visit.  An old and worn pair of very similar (same size!) shoes to Gary's was left in their place.   Our son had inadvertently put on Gary's shoes and left.

As parents of children who were in Moundsview High School danceline and navigating a snake pit of dysfunction we clung to each other for dear life.  One particular grueling day of sitting in bleachers waiting for our kids to perform, my husband Dan was not sitting with me when Gary and Kathryn stopped by to say hi and offer moral support.  Gary said, "Where is Dan?  Is he out in the parking lot disemboweling himself?"  We mention this often when we think of Gary or our daughters danceline experiences and laugh heartedly.

May we always know that whoever we are and whatever we accomplish in life, we have value.  This is my take on Gary and what he offered the world.   I am so thankful for him and what he stood for.  He lived with integrity and passion.  He was a beacon that the world will miss.