2009--A Year of Contrasts: "Kirschkes' Year in Review"

Last year (2009) was a tough one, with Jen and I both losing our dear Mothers, both named "Dorothy." We also lost my ex-brother-in-law (but really, not "ex-anything," for he remained a good friend to the end, which is why he chose to live the last year of his life here). I'll try to post 3 links here, the first photos of 2009 in Review, secondly, a memorial to Gramma Dorothy (my Mom), then a memorial to Jen's Mom, and finally the Memorial to Garry Kirschman.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

[NOTE: The Memorial to "Gramma" Dorothy can be seen my clicking on the lower right box under the month of May in the media item above. I'll try to make another external link later]

The Memorial to Dorothy Kauffman, Jennifer's mother, will be posted here shortly, as will the Memorial to Garry Kirschman.

Garry and I were friends before I met my first wife, and remained friends after she deserted the family almost 16 years ago. He could have hard feelings about that, but our relationship went deeper than his relationship with his own "flesh and blood," which reminds me of what Jesus said, "Those who do the will of my Father--these are my brothers and sisters and mothers."

Before cancer could take his life, Garry truly wanted to restore old friendships in the Family of God and wanted to be with his true, spiritual family, who loved him, clothed and fed him (so to speak), paid his bills, and met his needs in general the last year of his life, according to 1 Jn. 3:17-19:

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence."

While some (even relatives) thought Garry was a dreamer and a bit "off," LifeWay Christian Community aided in restoring his relationship with his children and gave dignity to his life, and gave him a place at the table of God. One of his favorite songs of mine, which he, as a great musician and bass-player, helped me record in the studio had this refrain, "Don't Turn Your Back on Your Brother, My Friend; We're in together until the end---Until the Day we just begin, To share God's love forever." That day finally came for Garry, and we will miss him---his enthusiasm for life, his excitement about new discoveries, his sarcastic humor and the transparency of his human short-comings, making way for the grace of God to uplift and make him a better friend, brother and father. A little bit of Garry will always stay with us all.