Trying to open up a bit...
I have known Josh for about a decade. He always would pick me up and throw me around or come up and nuzzle me with his goggle-glasses and pointy stubble. I would always see him at the Hurricane when I was about 15, then worked with him when I was about 18, then later at the Mercury for a few years before he re-enlisted with the Army. He would always tell me not to hug him at the Mercury because he was all sweaty and didn't want to get my clothes gross and I had to remind him that we were at the Merc and my clothes were going to be gross the next day just from going in that place with all the smoke. He and I would sit and talk for hours through the night, through the next morning, and through the afternoon drinking pot after pot of coffee and sometimes bouncing through multiple venues just to end up back where we started 24 hours later.
We will always miss the man who enriched our lives so much, but we can not have him back. He was taken from us. Though he was the last to go from his patrol because he was a fighter, he couldn't win every battle. It's sad that he has lost this one and we will never see him here again. I'm glad he died doing what he believed in. I'm glad he died for giving his life for his fellow soldiers who were injured in the first blast. I hope that if I'm half as lucky that I can go out doing what I love and remembered so well by so many wonderful people.
Calling so many people today was hard while I listened to cries, screaming, and shock. He so rarely frowned, please remember the joyous person he was and how much he lifted you up whenever you saw him. It's going to be a hard time for all of us while we cope with the reality of never seeing him again. Please be there for each other. Put aside petty differences and remember that all of the negativity doesn't matter. It's the good moments that we share that are the ones we remember and it's those fond memories that we cherish. Don't diminish the time you can spend enjoying times like those that Josh brought those of us who knew him, but be there in the moments of life and live it like it's worth it.
To all of you, my friends. If you ever need me, let me know (an ear, a shoulder, or an accomplice).
We will always miss the man who enriched our lives so much, but we can not have him back. He was taken from us. Though he was the last to go from his patrol because he was a fighter, he couldn't win every battle. It's sad that he has lost this one and we will never see him here again. I'm glad he died doing what he believed in. I'm glad he died for giving his life for his fellow soldiers who were injured in the first blast. I hope that if I'm half as lucky that I can go out doing what I love and remembered so well by so many wonderful people.
Calling so many people today was hard while I listened to cries, screaming, and shock. He so rarely frowned, please remember the joyous person he was and how much he lifted you up whenever you saw him. It's going to be a hard time for all of us while we cope with the reality of never seeing him again. Please be there for each other. Put aside petty differences and remember that all of the negativity doesn't matter. It's the good moments that we share that are the ones we remember and it's those fond memories that we cherish. Don't diminish the time you can spend enjoying times like those that Josh brought those of us who knew him, but be there in the moments of life and live it like it's worth it.
To all of you, my friends. If you ever need me, let me know (an ear, a shoulder, or an accomplice).