Goodbye to our Angel

The resident sweetheart of the little beach town where we live, died unexpectedly a couple of days ago. In his leaving, all of us here have been set adrift.  The shock in our community is palpable.  Everyone here loved Robert, or Bob, or Bob-O, he had so many names of endearment.  He was a fixture everywhere, at the bars and restaurants, the coffee shops, the farmers market… you name it, Bob was everywhere and everyone knew Bob.  Even the tourists knew him.  He rode his bike through town and we all gave him rides when the weather was too bad to ride.  He was included in everyone’s gatherings, in everyone’s circle. Bob was only forty six but I think all of us knew his health wasn’t the best. He never complained and there was an ever present smile on his face and so it was easy to believe he would be with us forever.  It was impossible to imagine that he wouldn’t be.  He was the essence of what all communities should be, people taking care of people.  He was the friend that we all need.  Oh Bob, how we are going to miss you.

Your smiling face and those big hugs made us all fall in love with you.  No one gave a hug like you, a squeeze that could still be felt long after you let go. I am going to miss you riding past us on your bike, waving and smiling, flags flying and dressed to kill.  No one will ever wear gold lamé, neon basketball shorts or sparkly belts like you did.    You had the most amazing memory and knew everyone.  We couldn’t go anywhere with you, without you seeing someone you knew and calling them by name. And then making a point to introduce us all, pulling all of your friends together like one giant solar system that spun happily around you.  

I am going to miss your fist bumps and “I’m watching you”  hand gesture.. always trying to make us smile.  I am going to miss sitting on the deck at Huc-a-Poos on a warm spring night and watching you hit the ring toss over and over then turning around to make sure we were watching.  I am going to miss our shopping trips together, trying to keep up as you drove that grocery cart like it was a race car.  I hope they have sushi Wednesday and peanut butter cream pies and orange juice without any pulp in heaven.  I am so sorry I broke the zipper on your cold bag last week.  I thought I would get you a snazzy new one next week on our shopping trip, not realizing there wouldn’t be a next week.  I am going to miss helping you pick out shirts at Walmart…. damn them for not having that watermelon shirt that you wanted last week.  I am going to miss holding your hand walking across the parking lot and getting your sweet texts checking in to see what we were doing.  If only I could go back in time to last Friday when you texted and asked what we were doing, we would have put down our paintbrushes, locked the studio and went to hang out with you instead of working.

You were the joy that is Tybee.  The love, the acceptance and everything that is good about a small town.  You shared your joy with everyone around you and made us all feel like we were your best friend.  You were everyone’s sweetheart.  You drew no distinction between age or race or gender.  No distinction between the far left or the far right or those who could care less.  You loved people for the good that you could see shining within them.  And they loved you back.  We all loved you back.

There is never enough time with angels.  They move too quickly through our lives.  Reminding us of what true joy and true love and true acceptance really is.  Reminding us how we can be better.  And we are all so much better for having known you, Bob.  Thank you for enriching all of our days here on this little island.  You have left such a big hole in our hearts.  May each of us try and fill that empty space with the goodness that you showed us.  May we all remember that being kind, enjoying each day, sharing a laugh and a hug, and taking care of each other are the most important things that we do while we are here on this earth.

Everyone here on Tybee thought that they helped take care of you, but the truth was you took care of us.  May we all become more like you in the days to come.

I love you very very much too, Bob. We all do. Rest in the light my friend.