This morning, the snow was so heavy that I drove half the distance to my destination in first gear. Normally, on a day like today, I don’t leave the house. I see multiple inches of snow on the car, on the ground, and I think, “no way.”

But today was different. Today was the funeral for a dear old friend of mine whose battle with cancer has finally ended. I won’t say he lost, because he didn’t. He was released, and for his sake, I am thankful.

I can’t seem to write about this, or him. The words are clunky and weird, and they are too heavy to line up straight.

But I loved my friend so much. His presence, his conversation, his laughter, and his friendship over the past 15 years made a difference in my life, and I will miss him dearly.