My tears are falling from my sad eyes
Today I lost a very special friend
He walked so softly into my heart
God must have designed this 
He came for such a short time into my life
But that span of time
He was the quiet strength I needed
He calmed my inner sadness
And made me smile 
While I was his friend and he was mine.



I've always believed in Angels
More so now I know they truly are all around us
I don't remember asking God for a Special Angel
Maybe sometimes He doesn't need to be asked
He just knew I needed one, and gave me Ed
I learned so much from this quiet man
I think this is what Angels are made of
Quietness and peacefulness
I don't know if he ever knew of my sadness
If so, he never let on till close to the end.



I often told him how he reminds me of my granddad
How I loved to sit and listen 
The stories he shared
Some sad and some happy
Such a quiet bond we had made
This elderly man and I.



He once told me he was born poor
Made a fortune
Gave away so much
To his beloved children and grandkids
And will someday die poor
The circle in which he lived his life.



I asked myself at the time and today again
As I recall his words
How can such a man die poor
It could never be possible 
All you have to do is look around
His wealth is the reflection of love
You see in everyone's misty eyes 
As they speak of such a loving man.



I know I only shared a small sliver of his life
But that sliver sure has been deeply embedded 
Into my heart and soul
I would like to call our friendship
A special faith of timing
I know Ed quietly slipped away
Just like he quietly slipped into my heart
I know I will have many tears
And moments filled with sadness
Especially come those Friday afternoons
That was our Special Time together.



I know as surely as the stars shine at night
I will always miss him 
I'll miss that cute caring smile of his
But I know ... 
I won't go looking up into the sky 
For his memory
Instead I'll look within myself
And feel his memory. 



At times if I'm feeling really sad
I know I'll continue 
Ed Sapinski's famous remedy
I'll open up a jigsaw puzzle
And slowly put the pieces back together
Maybe I'll pour myself a glass of red wine
And quietly talk to him again.
Maybe he will laugh at me as we struggle
With the pieces of this puzzle 
We are working on "Together".



Till we meet again ...
I love you my Special Friend
Thank you so much!




9 April 2005