Red-Haired Angel

Thinking of you always reminds me of my youth, growing up in our small town I recall my early teenage years were filled with fond memories of you in our circle of friends Always polite and kind, and a little bit shy around those you didn't know Your willingness to always lend a hand was one of your best qualities Your physical strength was evident And your dependability was a given It was so endearing, how your face went as red as your hair everytime you laughed And it was next to impossible to hold in a laugh at the sound of your infectious giggle Oh, how I will miss that giggle Oh, how so many of us will miss that giggle Cracking jokes and keeping people in stitches showcased your sense of humour, which was as contagious as your big, jolly grin Some would vouch that you were mostly quiet in nature, but for those of us that knew you, that usually meant you were up to something!! Time passed, and the circle of friends changed Just like that, we became middle-aged adults To my surprise, once again, you appeared And I was blessed to learn you occupied the apartment across from the one my aging parents moved into I began to travel back in time, re-living the memories of our younger days I looked forward to the chance that I might see you when I visited, and when I did, I very much enjoyed the reunion, Michael! How reassuring it was for me, to know my Mom & Dad were in great hands if they ever needed anything That in itself, brought me so much comfort and relief I hope you know how very much I appreciated everything you did for them Today, it is for you that I wish comfort And freedom from all that ailed you I pray that you are continuing on with your antics, spreading joy and laughter, knowing that you hold a special place in the hearts of those that knew and loved you May you rest in peace, my friend ?? June 11, 2021