Ross was my mate.

He shuffled from this mortal coil this morning after a stroke that hit him like a freight train.

I will miss him: as will our little Riverland bunch of mates, including Lynchy, who I had a chat with yesterday.

Ross was a rare man of character.

He loved life:
He loved and adored his family as they did him: Dad, Poppy and mate.
He loved his friends: as they loved him because he was always there for them.
He loved his wife of many years: and held her in his heart always.
He loved Kerry a recent companion of such a short time; who they made each other happy.

….he just loved life
Fishing
Dancing
Working for others…..

Some, even me, can not always remember what Ross did for us:
……. but, we will always remember the way he made us feel.

I don’t know if Ross was a man who believed in a higher power like me, but I know we both thought religion was more hypocritical than us:
……. I also know if he had an appointment at the Pearly Gates for 11:00 am he would reschedule for 11:03 am…..

I don’t know much, but, I do know one thing….

Ross will always be here in our memories, in times, even many years in the future, when we laugh and turn to share it with him; and remember that he is not there anymore; and laugh again, because that is what he would want.

To all of us, to family, life long friend, new friends such as me, and mostly his great loves in life; we know we are lucky.

For, if you have know Ross for a lifetime, or a fleeting friend or work colleague, or just passing him with a helo in the street; we all wish we had met him earlier, so we could have known him longer:
– having his counsel
– his humour
– his friendship, and love
– and that one extra beer
– that one last laugh
– that one last fishing trip
– that one last dance
– that one last shake of that big strong hand
– that one last soft touch that he gave so freely to everyone

And, we did; in that last one time, we did that one last thing with him: I am not sad because I won’t do them again, okay, a little sad, but, I am glad I got to do them at all.

I am a sad, but I am blessed, grateful and humbled that I knew Ross….

…..and, I hear him muttering from heaven “Bullshit” in his quiet tone: and it makes me smile.