REMEMBERING SAM JOHNSON

01/14/1954 – 12/18/2007


Olivia sent me a note, entitled my father. I didn’t have to open, to know what it said. He’s an angel now. Olivia’s father Sam lost his battle to cancer. It’s never an easy thing to hear, when you know of someone whose life was taken too early. It’s even harder to swallow, when you don’t know what to say to your best friend, about losing her father. Sadly this has happened twice in my life, and both times I am at a total loss for words. Nothing is more painful, than knowing my friends are hurting.

I feel helpless.

I fumble with my talk, I fumble with my words, but hopefully what I write I won’t falter on.

It seems my fondest memories of Sam; seem to all derive around Nebraska football. It appeared that Sam never really fully understood what he got himself into by taking Olivia and I to the Nebraska vs Colorado football game some odd years ago. Because of Sam’s work, involving team planes, Olivia and I were able to spend a weekend with both the Nebraska and Colorado football players and coaches at Thanksgiving. Sam, not only had to worry about his duties, he had to make sure the two of us were behaving. (Nothing like Colorado Bulldogs, with the Colorado team the night before.) Sam propped us both up in the middle of Colorado fans, wearing bright red. More than once, we had a slight pop to the back of the head to pay attention to the game not the new players, or the male cheerleaders we had met. Our giggles, and our stories, left Sam speechless.
It was then Sam, who took our wayward spring bodies in, our last year in college. Again, I can almost her him mime, never again girls. From breaking his roommate’s bed at that time, to nonstop cackle in the middle of spring break rush hour San Antonio style, Sam never furled his lips to frown, but smiled widely and shook his head in amazement all the while. He learned more about dying hair, two day hangovers, and what we women need than he ever wanted to know.
But.. The coolest thing is, not once did Sam ever hinder us from being the brave twentysomethings we thought we were, and never did his smile cease.
Not to mention I learned the fated tale of the texas armodillo from Sam.

You will be missed Sam Johnson.

Christmas in Heaven
Don’t cry for me, angels sang and carried me away.
Their voices soothing, far more triumphant than all the Christmas carols combined.

The Heavens stars remind me of the twinkle lights that pave the street, brilliant, and constant.

Don’t cry for me, I am spending Christmas with Jesus this year.

Dry your eyes my loved ones, I am among the angels now.
My soul a special gift to heaven, heaven’s exclusive gift to you.

Don’t cry for me, I am with you on this Christmas Day. Look within; I am not so far away.
I know you are hurting, but I am not anymore.

Christmas Angels have catered to me; have given me god’s gift, love and blessing.
I am at home now.
My gift on this day to you and always, will be undying love wrapped and counted for under the tree.
Each of you will know, I am there in your unique way.

I will see you always, I will miss you always, but I am home to stay.

Don’t cry for me my loved ones, I am forever your angel and with Jesus on this holiday.

By A.R.