Garett

My friend Garett just passed away last Thursday. I've been thinking about him a lot lately. I've sat down a few times to write out my feelings...trying to use writing to figure out what's going on in my head, and to hopefully come to terms with everything. Unfortunately, every time I try, I find that what I'm writing is too personal and sad...and those of you that knew him know why a sad eulogy is inappropriate. So, instead of writing something about him, I've decided to share some parts from two of his favorite books.

Garett once told me that there were two books that he'd always recommend to everyone he was friends with. These books were The Prophet by Kahil Gibran, and Illusions by Richard Bach. He once joked that when it was the last minute, and he needed a gift for someone, he'd just wrap up his copy of either book, give it away, and then buy another.

So, while I'm working on writing down some of my best memories of him, here is something that's probably even better: literature he loved. You can tell a lot about a person by what they read. Hopefully, from these two quotations you can get a small glimpse of what a great guy he was.

(And I apologize in advance for picking these quotations. There are much happier ones in both books, I guess these two just mean the most to me right now cause they deal with sadness and loss).

This first quotation is from The Prophet.

"Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.
And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.
And how else can it be?
The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.
Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?
And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?
When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.
When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

Some of you say, "Joy is greater than sorrow," and others say, "Nay, sorrow is the greater."
But I say unto you, they are inseparable.
Together they come, and when one sits, alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.

Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.
Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.
When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall."

And now, for Illusions. This book I've shared once before on this blog, and the quotation I shared then is even more appropriate now so I'll share it again. Here it is:

Don't be dismayed at good-byes,
A farewell is necessary before you can meet again,
And meeting again,
after moments or lifetimes,
is certain for those who are friends.