When I think of Mike or see pictures of him now I think of his larger than life presence in the world and in every room he was in. I met Mike at a young age and from then until the recent years he always respected me and made me smile. It was good to have him in your corner. My Dad always said Mike was the tough guy. In which he was but also a guy with a gentle soul. He had huge respect for my parents and it was reciprocated by them. I heard a documentary once on Chris Farley and one of his friends said "God made the mold and he threw it out the window. But there was no mold he was Ethers, stars, and comets. Precious jewels and gems with Mike" it hits the nail on the head for me with Mike.
Ive known a lot of people with addiction Issues and there is always an underlying pain they try to hide away. Noone wanted this for Mike but noone walked in shoes. He had said to me a couple of years ago "If I die I have lived a life and it would be my bad but I'm not selfish and I know I have f***ed up." And that his children were always on his mind and who he truly desired to be there for. There is no room for judgement again we all embody our own demons, we all have a story. Some just choose to deal in different ways. Maybe its drugs, maybe its medication, maybe its therapy or maybe its nothing. We all walk this road together even if we realize it now or not. Regardless the people who knew him knew that underneath it all was the stars and the comets that I mentioned above. A man with good heart. A man who had so much Love to give. And he did show intense Love to the people who stuck by him and that meant the most to him. They say a smile can hide a thousand things and he did it well. Mike was too stubborn to rely on others or he may have thought he didnt want to burden anyone he loved. So no matter what, that same joyful larger than life presence was always there. So you could smile. Ive never met anyone like him and im sure I never will again. He will be missed. My Heart goes out to his family, and the many people who were his closest friends. And of course his children. Ill leave this with a poem of an unknown author.
As I stumble through this life,
help me to create more laughter than tears,
dispense more happiness than gloom,
spread more cheer than despair.
Never let me become so indifferent
that I will fail to see the wonder in the eyes of a child
or the twinkle in the eyes of the aged.
Never let me forget that my total effort
is to cheer people, make them happy
and forget - at least momentarily -
all the unpleasantness in their lives.
And, in my final moment,
may I hear You whisper:
‘When you made My people smile,
you made Me smile.
May God Hold you close Mike. It doesnt have to hurt anymore. You were a force to be reckoned with. I know God smiled when he seen you. Happy to have you home.
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