I enter this week, as many of my Shenandoah Alums do, with a heavy heart. It was roughly two years ago to the day that our Ira Harris was involved in an altercation that left Ira in intensive care where he would succumb to his injuries two days later on February 27th. When news first hit that Ira was badly injured and in serious condition, thoughts, prayers, and rallying words flooded Facebook so much that I bet if a regional survey was taken, the name Ira Harris would've been trending on Facebook in the DC/VA/MD area. In fact, I guarantee it. Why? Because that is how many people Ira not only knew, but loved, touched, and inspired. Ira was a man that knew just one thing: love. He knew how to love, how to be loved, why we should be loved, and what he loved. Not bad for what some would label as 'just a kid.'
Ira was the first person that ever said anything to me on my first day on the Shenandoah Campus. I remember it quite vividly, and for those of you that know my short-term memory, this is quite an accomplishment for me. It was a rainy, ugly day in August 2007 and it was freshman move-in day. The entirely too small parking lots were filled with cars, parents, dolly carts, suitcases, cardboard boxes, and unattended younger brothers and sisters. And it was only 8 am. My family brought two cars; dad and I in his, mom and Eric (my brother) in mom's. Dad dropped me off at the front door to Racey, my freshman dorm, and went to find a parking spot with mom's Volkswagen Passat puttering behind. As I walked in, there was a table with five or six (maybe it wasn't that vivid after all) people helping misty-eyed parents and wide-eyed, quasi-nervous students.
But one person stood out. It wasn't his mane of tight, spiraly hair, though it didn't help, but it was his energy. He was bouncing back and forward, bobbing his head, helping anybody and everybody with energy that I had never seen before. And I remind you it was 8 am and some change. He then asked if I needed some help. Uhh, hell yes. I told him my name and he looked at his check-in list and smiled when he found it. It wasn't because I knew him or he knew me. I had never met this man before. He was smiling because, as it would turn out, I would be living right across from him and he would be my RA for my freshman year. By then, dad had parked the car and made his way to the lobby and met me at the table. Dad introduced himself to Ira and you would've thought Ira was shaking hands with Michael Jackson himself. He then escorted my dad and me to my room, asked if I needed anything else, and then went back to the lobby. That was my first experience with Ira.
Now, I'm not going to recount my whole history with Ira, but I wanted to share that first one because that was what was so special about him. Ira didn't know me from Adam, but he didn't care. I was another new face for him, but what a new face meant to Ira was a new friend and a new person to love. That's why he was so excited to meet me.
In 2009, another very dear friend of mine, Casey Spence, died. When I moved to Ellicott City in 2001, I was paralyzingly shy, still am to an extent, but she was the one that reached out to me and brought me into the neighborhood. There's no doubt that if it weren't for her, I never would have met my best friend to this day, Jon Kaufman. Casey was the catalyst to what would be a very enjoyable middle and high school career. All because of Casey. At Casey's funeral, the priest made an interesting but profound point. He said, 'While we celebrate and embrace the life that Casey led, we must also look at how she left us.' I will never forget this. I thought it was odd to talk about that at a funeral, but over the years it became clear to me why he said this.
Life is full of entrances and exits, and each much be treated with the same respect because it will make subsequent entrances and exits mean that much more. We must never forget how we met our best friends just like we should never forget how people leave our lives. whether it be voluntarily or not. Whether it be physically or spiritually. So that is why I told you how Ira left us. Because it shouldn't matter how he left. That doesn't change the type of person he was and how he lived his life. When Ira died, a reunion of SU alums was organized that night at a bar in Astoria, and I remember the toast I made. I said that Ira lived a unique and special life and we were are blessed to have met him. But now that he is gone, we have the awesome responsibility to carry on his legacy. It is our job to love like Ira loved and spread his personality to people that will encounter throughout our lives that never met Ira. Because everybody should have an Ira in their lives. That is our job and I know we will all see it through.
I have certainly loved a lot more in my life since Ira and Casey's passing and will continue to love more and more. Sometimes it is hard. Sometimes it isn't. But it is always necessary.
Abide and Ramble On
Stish
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