I didn't really know him that well

Tonight I learned a guy I went to a few meetings with passed away a few nights ago. They think he was riding his bike and had a stroke, and he was hit by a car. His wife was handicapped and he was taking care of her.

The announcement was made after the meeting and Bo and I quickly figured out who it was. This guy was the nicest guy you'd ever meet. He had been sober for 2 to 3 years. I spoke with the guy who announced it a little after dinner. A few others I talked to before and after. There was a consensus - "I didn't really know him that well, but he was a nice guy".

These situations always stop you in your tracks and and puts some humbling thoughts out there. Personally, when I found out, I was going to miss the short conversations we had every week. I just took for granted the conversations and thought I'd have a longer conversation someday. Someday we'd catch up. I just couldn't believe it. Larry is gone. And I missed the conversations we never got to have.

To a few of my friends out there, they know they call me and there is never a short conversation. And to some there are always the short ones. I'd like to find a middle ground. Not fall to heavy on some friendship and not take for granted others.

Hopefully this hasn't been too morbid. I would like to think I'm not disrespecting Larry by using his passing to reflect on some idea of my life. But hopefully I am respecting him by reminding myself, every once in a while, to change my conversations at times, and to remember the nice guy that you don't really know.

There's another man who I have known for 6 years and recently, I have had longer conversations with him and have enjoyed those conversations.