All Good Things.........

I wish that I could say that I knew B all my life, but unfortunately I have only had the pleasure of knowing him and loving him for the past 6 years. I guess that is not entirely true because B and I first met 9 years ago at MSU. Fate has a funny way of stepping in and it dealt me a great card, meeting B.

B and I first met 9 years ago at MSU. Both he and I as well as my best friend E Dawg were all Kinesiology majors. B has such a dynamic personality that I was immediately drawn to him. The three of us became best friends, saving each other seats in shared classes, doing group assignments together, sharing rides, studying for exams, and a little bit cheating here and there....honesty first, honesty first. Both B and I had significant others during the early years, so our relationship was strictly one of genuine friendship. After graduation B and I still remained friends, but it wasn't until July of 2005 that special things started happening.

Unfortunately in 2005, B and his family suffered the loss of his Stepdad, and for whatever reason late one July night I received an interesting phone call from a very drunk friend.....guess who? B said that he had been thinking of me lately and was wondering if he could come and visit me in Grand Rapids. I had just graduated from Northwestern, and by this time B was in his third year of Law School. I couldn't see the harm in seeing him so we made official plans and B came to see me in GR. I remember the first visit like it was yesterday.

Megs, Nick, and I were all living together in the Tremont house and we had decided to have some friends over and to head to downtown GR. We started the night like we started many nights in those days, with a few beers, a round of shots, and a ride to the bar, courtesy of Megs and Mike. It was really a great night and B and I picked up where we left off. The only change, was that by now, both he and I were single. What started as a visit to GR every other week, quickly turned into a very serious romance. I knew that B was the one, and I only hoped that he too felt this way. Within months of dating, B said the words every woman longs to hear....."I Love You Lindsay." My heart swelled with joy and I just knew that fate had finally stepped in.

After B's graduation from Law School, we decided to try our hand in Chi-City. I, of course, was familiar with the town, and B too had lived and worked in Chicago during the summer months of Law School. After finding out that B had officially passed the bar, he and I started to build a life together in the Windy City. Both he and I had a close group of friends that had been living there, so our social networks were already in place. However it was only through B that I had the pleasure of meeting some of the most wonderful and most important people in the world to me C and D.

C and D are B's first cousins. They are both known to be tough cookies, but for me it was easy. I immediately fell in love with both of them. I just wanted to spend more and more time with them, and they quickly became some of my best friends. Chicago was easy with them by my side. If I needed to find a great club I called D and if I need to find a great restaurant I called C. On top of that C's husband was born and raised there so he too was a great resource during our time in Chicago. Additionally C has two beautiful little girls, and B and I were there to see them grow up.

B and I's love grew and blossomed in Chicago. We learned many tough lessons but we learned them together. Chicago holds so many memories for us. Chicago is where we got Bear, where we purchased our first home, and where we got engaged. It is the place where B did the things he enjoyed most in life, sports. It is through the softball leagues and golf that B and I also met some truly special people. Chicago will always mean something to B and I.

Fast-forward to August 8th, 2009, it is B and I's wedding day. The day I have waited for my whole life. I am one of my last friends to marry, but I know in my heart that B was worth the wait. The day is beyond perfect. We are surround by 250 loving family and friends. B looks so happy and so handsome and I just know that we were meant to be. The day goes by so fast and before you know it we are on our way to Coast Rica for our honeymoon. It is there that we decide it is time to make a change. We both hate our jobs in Chicago, and we both know that it is time to move, so back to the Mitten we go.

I move back to Michigan a few months before B. I do my best to lay the ground work in Michigan so that when B moves, everything is in place. I find us our rental home, I arrange for a move in date, and I patiently wait for my loving husband to arrive. Moving back to Michigan was easy. Both B and I are from Michigan and we both have friends and family very close. The transition was seamless. I landed a great job at OAM and B, a full time teaching position at Grand Valley. Things couldn't be better!

It is now January 2010 and B is complaining of a sports injury. I encourage him to see a Dr.......and you all know the story from here.

Unfortunately B passed away last night. B's fight against Cancer came to an official close. And it's not because he is quit, because he didn't, it's just the cancer was too strong and too advanced. We simply ran out of options.

It almost seems surreal to say he's gone. I went home tonight and it took my breath away. He is everywhere and in everything, it is hard to do much of anything. I am so scared and so lost. I guess I will be seeing him in my dreams. We all lost so much because he is and was a wonderful, loving, supportive, funny, handsome, kind, caring, compassionate, competitive, man. He is my heart, my best friend in life, my soul mate. He will be with us forever in spirit. So I guess you could say this is the end of the blog. We appreciate all the love, support, and prayers during this most difficult time.

B, B's family, Me, and my family don't intend to return phone call or emails at this time. We just don't want anyone to have hurt feeling, but listen this entire process has been exhausting. I just don't have the energy to talk about what's going on.

All of you that have had the pleasure of knowing B are truly blessed. B is special plain and simple! I will post funeral arrangements on the blog shortly as we are still working out the details.