Goodbye, Rob

Last Friday I called a good friend that I have known for 22 years. I just wanted to hear his voice. I told him about Mom, we talked about our kids, our parents, and our friends. We laughed and when he said goodbye, he said "Love ya, girl". Of corse, I was thinking that I would see him when it was time for Mom's funeral so I said "Love you, too. See you soon."

The next day his Mom called and I assumed she was calling to talk about my Mom so I didn't call her back right away. When I did, she said 3 words that have changed my life forever. "Rob is gone". My world seemed like it was spinning counter clockwise or my true north had just been reversed. My heart broke and I don't know if I said the right words to her or not. It was such a shock to hear those words about one of my most loyal, truest friends. Rob saved my life more than once when I was an angry, self destructive teenager. I'm not sure that I will ever forgive myself for not being there to save his.

My ex husband described Rob the best. "Long haired, tattooed, rebel, Viking pirate with a heart of gold and sometimes bad intentions." I know that at any point in our friendship he would have given me the shirt off his back, a roof over my head, or a meal to eat if I needed one. Mostly we cried on each other's shoulders, laughed, partied, and laughed some more. His passing leaves a void in my heart that will never be filled again.

RIP Robert David Rawstrom. I love you, brother.