I’m sure my sister would rather me not, but I feel a conscious obligation to talk to her twin boys about their father from time to time.

Pancreatic cancer killed him two Februaries ago and his boys, who are now twenty year old men in college, have been through a lot (obviously) but are now (thankfully) doing really well.

I guess my sister doesn’t want anything or anyone to drag them back down into the abyss of themselves.

She just wants them to thrive healthily. As free from conflict from bad memories as possible.

Of course I don’t blame her at all but like I said, I feel an obligation.

I want them to know it’s okay to talk about him. Happily or otherwise.

We all tried to protect them as much as we could but I want them to know that their dad, my brother-in-law and best friend, has not been forgotten.

I casually slipped him into the conversation I was having with one of my nephews on the phone the other day.

“Can’t you just hear him saying ‘Actos’”, I said.

My nephew laughed and said, “Yes, completely!”

His dad was a pharmaceutical sales rep and one of his drugs was Actos and once he started talking about it..well, you know.

But then I got a little teary and I told my nephew that I’m just in awe of him. In awe of how he’s keeping his head up, killing it, etc etc.

He said, “Thank you but what else can I do except try to make him proud of me everyday.”

And with that, I’m sending love to you right now. You, the reader. Yes, you.

~ Gabe

P.S. The ancient Egyptians would say that a person would always be with us as long you say their name. So, with that, I’d like to say Rory Friendland.

P.P.S. No, I dont expect anyone to read what I just wrote. If I saw this on Facebook, I’d probably skip right past it too. But if you are in fact still here, with eyes dialed in on this sentence, I appreciate it so fully. I hope these words do something for your perfect little cells. For your perfect tremendous soul. Love/Thanks.