This is written for Annie, Maren, Woody, Tohi, Baby, etc. To those of you who won't remember Michael, per se, but who will know the myth:
First of all, this is what happened to Michael: he was coming home for his birthday to go to a concert on Friday, September 19, 2014. He had a friend with him in the car, and they were driving north on 95, listening to music and looking forward to a fun weekend. In a horrible, random, freak accident, a wheel flew off a semi heading south on 95, crashing through Michael's window and crushing him. They tried to revive him but there was no way he could have made it. He officially died later at Flagler Hospital.
So Michael is gone. We talk about him regularly, but he can't help but obtain some sort of legend status. I am here to set the record straight. This is what Michael was like:
He was fun. He was a guy who liked to "do stuff," for lack of a better expression. "Hey Mike, do you want to...?" "Sure!" or he would say, "we should...." He was an explorer and a traveler, easy-going, agreeable, and (again) fun.
He was generous and kind. He was the.best.gift.giver. Seriously thoughtful. He had good ideas that he thought about months ahead of time and planned.
He was a nut for sports. He loved the Gators and the Jaguars, but he knew everything about every sport. He also loved the Boston teams, the Red Sox and Bruins. He loved organizing the family fantasy football league and played various sports. He was more than a decent athlete, and he was competitive. That competitiveness extended to any game ever played with him, and he loved playing games, cards, etc. He liked the rules to be followed, and he liked to win.
He was passionate about cooking, music, and scuba diving. He didn't develop his sophisticated palate until later in life, but, once he did, he was really into trying new things. He loved listening to and making music. And he loved being underwater. He also loved his program at FIT and loved the project he worked on..
Michael, the man, was, in many ways, larger than life. He was taller than most people, with a bigger smile and a louder voice. He was unlike most men in that he talked a lot and was also open with his emotions. He was the kind of guy who could talk to anyone and made friends easily. He was the kind of brother who would call his sister with girlfriend woes. He was the kind of boyfriend who fell in love easily. Don't let these statements lead you to believe, however, that he was anything less than a man's man.
Michael really, truly loved his family. He spoke almost daily to Grammie and Pops, and he was always available to hang out. He liked to spend time with us, and with you. He loved being an uncle.
So that is Michael, briefly. You would have loved him! I hope his spirit continues to bring light to our family.
