Thursday, January 19, 2017
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HERBIE
I still remember the day I met Herbie, it seems like just yesterday. I fell in love with him immediately. He soon became my “favorite” even though we weren’t really supposed to have “favorites.”
As we all know, there were things Herbie couldn’t do. He couldn’t walk. He couldn’t talk. He couldn’t do many things other people take for granted every day. When some people looked at him, that’s all they saw- the things he couldn’t do. But that’s not what WE saw, and that’s not who he was.
I saw many things Herbie could do: He could smile and light up an entire room. He could laugh, a full belly laugh and it was music to my ears. He could feel un-tethered happiness. He could love without condition. He could show love without ever saying a word. Not everyone has those abilities.
There are people who have so many blessings that Herbie never had, and yet don’t fully appreciate those blessings. They have good health but take it for granted every day. They can walk but don’t know which way to go. They have arms but they can’t use them to reach out to others. They can speak but they don’t know how to tell others they love them. That wasn’t a problem for Herbie. He could express love with a look, with a smile, with a laugh, with a squeeze. He communicated his needs by crying or fussing, especially when his “man-hood” was pointed in the wrong direction. He knew that his resource center family would come and help him.
Herbie was unique in so many different ways; he took comfort in uncommon things such as boisterous noises that most people would find bothersome. He sure did love his chimes and drums.
Herbie inspired me, like a lot of you, to try harder. He helped teach us about our own strengths and gifts in this way. He taught me how to be happy because he took joy in simple things- joy in watching his movies, especially Fat Albert, HEY HEY HEY, joy in listening to his music, joy in listening to his chimes crash together, joy in riding on the wheelchair lift going up and down, he loved that.
Herbie showed me how to be strong, because strength is not just found in being the toughest or the fastest. Strength is found in one who keeps on going, keeps trying, day after day long after others have given up. Herbie was strong in this way, he was my hero.
Herbie taught us about kindness and patience, because it took a lot of love, patience and dedication to care for his needs day after day. It is truly loving without condition, and it is perhaps the most beautiful and pure example of love that exists. He made that kind of love exist.
Herbie gave us the gift of unconditional love. Unconditional love is loving even when it hurts, even when it’s not easy. It’s loving because you simply can’t help but love. And that is the greatest triumph of any life. To love and be loved, And Herbie taught me how to love without words, without limits, without reasons.
Herbie was a true gift to each and every one of us. For all the ways he taught us about life and love, for all the ways he inspired us to be better, and for all the love he gave while here with us.
I will truly miss you Herbie, your smile, your laugh, your cry. Although you are gone, you will NEVER be forgotten. My Herbie, may you rest in peace and shine down on us all. PS. Don’t cause too much trouble up there with Joe Joe.
