Small Tribute to a Friend. RIP Matt Story.

It's been 3 days since I learned my long time friend, Matt Story, passed away on Friday February 1oth 2012.  It has been a struggle to believe this has happened...
Wednesday is the funeral and I just know it will be the reality check I am dreading.

I sit here trying to recall some of the memories I have of Matt. Its been 20 years since I met him. I had just moved to Kendall (7th grade) and he just struck me as odd. He seemed very muscular and sure of himself, but had a very "bookish" nature. Always reading, quoting and joking in ways only a literary genius can.  Granted, I didnt get all his jokes (I never did read as much as he did!), and sometimes we just got on each others nerves, but I really liked who he was.  Oh, and we hardly ever agreed on things, but that didnt stop us from being friends. He is the kind of person that just doesnt let different opinions come in the way of friendship. Ya know? A rare breed.

I do remember a stint in 7th or 8th grade where a group of us had to recreate a scene from Lord of the Flies. And we did, in Matt's backyard. I was piggy and we were staging his death. (a little macabre) I know, but true. We "killed off" piggy (as I rolled down the mound of dirt in the backyard) and then as a comic relief we tried to "cook" bacon over the fire with sticks. Anyone who knows about campfires, knows you CANNOT "cook" bacon over the fire with a stick. The partially frozen bacon kept falling into the fire and we finally gave up (when all the bacon was gone) :) 
We had such fun that night. But to tell the truth, most of its a blur. 20 yrs is a long time to try to remember so many details. I dont really even remember who else was there, but I do remember it was Matt's house and his mom was so kind to us (for letting us "cook" her bacon) and for feeding me spaghettio's. lol... yes, that I remember (probably because I was dressed as "piggy" and I ate 2 cans of spaghettio's all by myself.) 


*sigh* memories.    I believe the last time I actually SAW Matt was about 8 years ago. I saw him in the mall parking lot. He was bald as a cue ball but still had his facial hair. Not who I remembered seeing in HS but unmistakeabley it was him.  We said "hi" and took a min to catch up, but that was it.  Then I caught him on facebook and kept well enough in touch. Or so I thought. Now I wish I had made time to see him again and chat or something. Regrets.

So, once again I say: Matt, I will miss you. I already do. Thank you for being you and making my days brighter.
(Since Matt liked quotes, I thought I would write one for him):
"There is no cure for birth or death, save to enjoy the interval" -George Santayana