How Many Times Should You Have Died

Over the course of my life there have been many occasions where I should or could have died. Often by my own doing and some quite unexpectedly. I have a friend who I'll say was at least partially responsible for many of my near misses. He is the best friend I've ever had. They include, but are not limited to nearly going over a damn in a canoe, to nearly being run over at night in a canoe, to misfiring fireworks, potato guns, driving recklessly, drinking too much, petty theft, shining accidents, Vegas Incidents, and did I say drinking too much?

Throughout it all my buddy was always there with and for me. He had advice to every problem I ever had. One day I moved away and the distance became too much for our friendship and besides we were both now married and raising kids. We talked occasionally and was always the same old guy I knew and loved. Or so I thought.

You see, while he had all of my answers, he never opened up to me or I'm guessing anybody else. He had terrible demons from his work in Law Enforcement. His specialty was catching Child Molesters. The few times I saw him after he took this job, I could see in his soul that he was so bothered, but he wouldn't give it up. He was a Marine and I think admitting any sign of weakness was too much. Then one day, my Mom wrote me to tell me he was dead. Dead because he drank himself to death and his liver failed.

My reason for sharing this is that as we go scurrying about our lives focusing on "The Big Picture" there are often friends like mine. It becomes the easy thing to just try to pretend it doesn't exist, except one day the pass away and we are left without our best friends and the best we can hope for is to reunite on the other side. I can tell you, not a day goes by that I don't think about my buddy. We are still alive for a reason. I believe part of that reason is to address that which is uncomfortable but necessary. Please, let's all remember reading this and let's all be brave and do that which is difficult because we are alive and still can.

RIP Michael J Hoffman, you had your faults, but what you did for mankind cannot be appreciated too much. There are many of society's worst people put away because of you.

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/southbendtribune/obituary-preview.aspx?n=michael-hoffman&pid=175340432&referrer=1964