Tribute to my friend Keith - how is your wonderful family?
Wayne Herring
Business Coach @ Business Builder Camp | Sales, Marketing, Leadership, Intentional Living
Keith.
I have a great friend who has moved on to the other side.
Keith passed away in the wee hours of Saturday morning in Hamburg NY, near Buffalo NY. Brendt and I had a chance to visit him and laugh with him in the weeks prior and Keith was spiritual and serene and an incredible teacher to me right up until the last moments.
On Saturday, one week before he passed... I helped Keith's sister Toni to get him into the hospital to get some relief from acute symptoms he was having. He told the paramedics who came that "it was a good day". He told me that "God is good Wayne." He said it in an earnest way so that I could see that even in his rough situation this was truth.
As he was lying in that hospital bed between sleep and alert states... he said as a command of sorts...haha... "Call the Judge" (Jimmy)... and so I did. And then he commanded "Call Brendt". I held the phone as he talked to them and told them he loved them. Then he surprised me when he said "Call Kathy." "Call your wonderful wife." And so I did... I dialed?Katherine Patterson Herring. I knew in that moment I would likely not see him again on this side.
He told her she was wonderful. He said "You know this doesn't change anything." Those who know him know he would say somewhat cryptic things - ha... He then told her she was a wonderful wife and mom and that she was beautiful and that we were great parents together. I think he meant that even though he was leaving we need to remember those things and that even from the other side he is cheering for us.
For 15 years whenever we spoke on the phone he would say "How is that wonderful wife? How is that wonderful family? When did you last take her on a date?"
Keith for years has been a rock for me in this area. This may shock you, but my life, my wife and family do not look wonderful to me at all times.... or rather I forget... they ARE wonderful, but the thoughts I am having and attaching to don't always remind me of that. Keith did remind me of that. In this final act of love for me he was talking to Kathy as I held the phone for my benefit and for the benefit of my family. I cried on his head at that point.
He looked me in the eye and gave me a thumbs up as I left.
领英推荐
Yesterday Katherine and I went to yoga together at 9am.... on the mat I realized we were on a date in the way that people with 4 kids go on dates.??The tears flowed on the mat again and it was good.
Keith and I spent a LOT of time together during my farm years and early sobriety years. He was taking care of his wife who had been in a comatose state for years after her tragic car accident. He would sleep in a chair in her long term care room over the night. Keith taught me a lot about love when I saw how he cared for his incapacitated wife who would not communicate in a way we understand. I learned a lot by how he spoke of her and the hope he had for her. I learned a lot when I saw him get their home in Mahanoy city modified so she could be at home when she died as he felt she would have wanted.
Many days he would cut grass at my dad's farm. Many times he would come take care of my chickens and tell me everything was handled. He and I had long drives in the dump truck to the feed mill and we talked about everything and nothing. In my early days of sobriety I really needed Keith and I think he needed me too.
In the later years we just called each other... we checked in... he thrived off of good news about my children... seemed to use it as energy in life. And it was a great reminder to me to focus on the best things in my life and the things I was grateful for.
I'm really going to miss this guy but I'm so grateful for the time we had together and what he gave to me and my family.
Brendt and I are thinking that maybe his crystal ball has been fixed in heaven. I think he will be watching with that crystal ball. I think he's back with Norma Jean. He used to say "I'm not Mr. Spiritual"... but I actually think he was and he is for sure Mr. Spiritual now.
Ride on Keith Foy. I love you.
… And no need to feel sorry for my loss, it was only gain… and this is about him and about you, not about me. ?But do ask yourself how you can be a little bit of Keith in someone else’s life today
Business & Life Coach
2 年I love you, Wayne. What a beautiful soul your friend, Keith is. What a gift he is to you, your family, to all of us.
Executive Sales Administrator at Utility Keystone Trailer Sales, Inc.
2 年Wayne.. wonderful tribute and I love how you pull us all back to the real point of our existence...to seek to serve and love one another. Note the word SEEK...this is an active..conscious state of awareness and action. One in which I need to improve upon in my life. Not only were you fortunate to have Keith in your life..he was fortunate to have you Wayne..as I feel fortunate to have you too!
Director of SC - Network Planning and Optimization
2 年A beautiful tribute to your long time friend Wayne. I remember meeting Keith in your backyard. You always had high praise for him I know that you made a difference for each other. My prayers are with you and Keith’s family. Thank you for sharing.
Preserving the Heart of the SBA by Protecting the Guarantee
2 年A beautiful tribute you wrote for your friend, Wayne Herring. A beautiful legacy your friend Keith has left behind. A beautiful friendship. Praying you find some peace as you cope with the loss of your dear friend. Thank you for sharing a beautiful friendship story. ??
Empowering People and Companies To Reach Their Full Potential
2 年I’m sorry you lost your friend Wayne. He sounds like an amazing man, husband and friend. I lost a friend a little while ago and at a celebration of his life a couple weekends ago it was amazing seeing people I had lost contact with.. and reestablishing those connections .. and I thought “well maybe this is Nick’s final gift to us” to make that happen. You were a great friend to Keith and it sounds like he shared a final gift with you as well. I’m sorry for your loss.