Last night, my dear friend Ross said his final goodbye to us.

I can see him smiling at me through his smoke rings at his celestial gig.

He insisted we throw a party when he moved on.

Ross always spoke of celebrating pain.

He said that death was something to be accepted the day we are born.

He loved people who knew struggle and loss. He lived amongst those who cried each night.

He touched them with his compassion and lifted them out of their depths.

 He never cried with them. He taught them to smile.

He taught them to say “If I’m suffering, thank God!”

In the face of tragedy he knew how to smile. In the midst of darkness he threw light.

I invite all my friends here to join me in celebrating suffering as a tribute to Ross.

Let’s sing for one of life’s blue-eyed boys.