I can't really even begin to say how much everyone here misses you. There's not a day that goes by that we all don't think about you or talk about you or remember you. I cant believe its been almost a month since you passed away. And frankly, I don't think its fair at all. I guess life isn't very fair though. I get dealt the hand with the father who has a brain tumor and skin cancer and tons of complications as a result, and the healthy active man passes away. It makes me angry. It makes me scared for my father, but it also makes me appreciate still having my dad around just to talk to.
Just your absence is the saddest thing. And I know that I'm the one who needs to be supportive and strong for Ian and for Emily and everyone. I kept that Great Smoky Mountains quarter you gave me because I told you about my coin collection and how I didn't have the Great Smoky Mountains yet. I look at it sitting on my dresser and thinking about how never in my life would I thought that a quarter would mean so much to me. Just like the Jimmy Buffet chap sticks you gave me that are flavored like island-y drinks. And the salt life shirt I borrowed the day we played tennis. I really suck at tennis, but any time I did something right, I got a high five or a enthusiastic "Awesome!" from you. And whenever I'd put the tennis ball way out to the left or into another court, you would come show me what I did wrong.
I would have never said it then but that meant the world to me, because my dad is too sick to play tennis or any sport with me anymore.
I remember going and playing volleyball at UCF with you and Ian and Adam and Em. You, Emily and I made a great team and those were some of the best weekends of my Senior year because for just a little while, I was spending time doing something awesome with people I love, apart from all the schoolwork and the studying.
You were like another dad to me, and even those times you were picking me up from my house and it was just you and I in the car, It was never awkward at all. We would talk and share ideas the whole way to wherever it was we were headed and meeting everyone else. I could tell you were an amazing dad to Ian and Emily and Adam. The way you and Mrs.Harmon would talk and interact made me smile and laugh. You were the kind of person who made other people just feel good about life and the future and themselves.
I only knew you for the amount of time I knew Ian, which is a little over 2 years. Those 2 years were probably the best 2 years of my life, and the time I got to know you was cut entirely too short. You took me to my first soccer game, and my first hockey game, and my first college football game. There were countless times you made me and everyone else laugh so hard it almost hurt. You were so selfless and did so much for other people without expecting anything in return. Singing in the car with you and Emily were some of the best car rides.
Mr.Harmon, you were the type of person that made the little things count. Like a quarter and some chapstick. A tee shirt and a day well spent playing volleyball. A classic song on the radio. A strike at the bowling alley.
I cant promise that me and Ian will be in love and together for ever and ever, but what I can promise is that he will have a best friend and a counselor and a musical reference and a scrabble opponent and a cheerleader for his whole life.
I can promise that Emily will also have a best friend, and a role model, and a student, and a personal stylist, and a comedian, and a therapist and a big sister with her for as long as possible.
Adam will always have someone to compliment his facial hair, and ask what team he's rooting for, and someone to make fun of when I sunburn my face with sunglasses so bad I look like a raccoon. And Mrs.Harmon will have someone to give her some extra smiles and hugs and laughs and conversations on the couch and recipes to talk about and someone to help garden with, and of course, lots of crazy energy to deal with from yours truly.
I will never regret always making Ian wait so I could say goodbye and goodnight and give you a hug before I left the house. And even sometimes when I would awkwardly say I love you, I really did mean it. I'm glad I said it that last night, and when I said see you tomorrow, I really wish I could have.
Thank you for being you, Mr.Harmon. You changed my life and you made me a better person. Ill never forget you. I love you.
- Robby
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