Be Good.

I am not the most eloquent writer and I am most definitely not the most articulate. However, I hope that somehow tonight, I find a way to get a little of my heart out here on this page so that you might be able to hold some of it in yours.

This week has been a painful one, to say the least. January 12, 2017 was the day I began living life without my Grandma Imogene on earth with me. I'm 37. I was born and raised in the same community as my Dad's parents. In fact, I still visit my Grandpa in the same home they raised their four children in. For one year I have been trying to wrap my mind and heart around the fact that one of the first most influential women in my life...is in heaven. Also this past week, one of my very dearest friends (whom is younger than me) started her first days without her Daddy here on earth with her. This is gut wrenching for me. There is nothing I can do to make a moment of this time less painful for her. I have shed so many tears for the man that this family is missing. I don't understand why his time was so short. He was good. He was young. He IS LOVED...and this is from someone on the outside.

You see, for years, even in adulthood I have been told to "Be Good." As a kid, leaving to go to a friends to play..."be good!" When leaving for a high school dance..."have fun and be good." Leaving my grandparents house after coming into town from college "ya'll come back! Be good!" And yet never before have I thought about these two words more than I have the last 3 days. I think for the last 37 years I have interpreted this sentence as "Don't be naughty." "Stay out of trouble." "Don't get caught where you aren't supposed to be." But after today, these two words will never sound the same.

I have seen hundreds of men and women, young to old line up to speak words of love and kindness. I have witnessed hundreds of men and women, young and old line up for hours to share with strangers their story. To hug and cry with those they never met to express their deepest sympathies. I have overheard grown men with shaken voices in a gas station discuss the impressive chant, the helping hand, the weekly lunches and whose turn it was to take the check. The one common denominator, was this man. I am more than proud to say that I knew Ron Flaigle. I didn't have to see any of these things or hear any of these stories to know the impact that he had on the world around him. I can tell you, that on more than one occasion he told me be to "Be Good." as I hit the road out of town after a quick visit with my bestie and her wonderful family, (one that very quickly took me in as their own). Often after a hilarious lunch of queso smothered burritos, in which he insisted to pay for, that probably ate up a few hours of his day.

Be. Good.

Today this sounds so different. It isn't saying what not to do, but just the opposite. In fact these two words are quite literal and boldly black and white. BE GOOD. Be kind, without reserve. Dive into your village and help one another out. If you see someone in need and you have the means to help them, hook up your truck and pull them out of the ditch, just because it is the nice thing to do. Listen. Smile. Don't complain. Make people laugh. Make people feel valued. Invest in the youth around you. Teach your children to work hard, dig a hole, and to take pride in a job well done. Lead by example. Rise early. Make memories. Build fences. Tear down walls.

Ronnie, your boots will never be filled. As you look down from heaven, I pray that you can see the impact you made on your loved ones and community. You will be missed greatly by those who love you, and your legacy will live on forever because you sir, were good.