This week is Larry Todd Cassidy week, it has been a year and it does not seem like it, he was such a big part of our lives we still look for his truck or to hear him trumping through the yard. But the greatest comfort is knowing where he is, he is in heaven with God, his savior. I keep thinking about the memorial service, the place was packed--standing room only and everyone had a story how Larry touched them. People from the hospital, who only knew him a few days were touched by him and his family. There were people that only knew him as a maintenance guy that came in the store and spoke so nice, and caring. He was diligent about his work, he cared about his job and the end result. He talked about his family and friends all the time. He was genuine, that is what everyone says about him. And he loved God, everyone knew, and he was not a bible verse in every sentence, reading his bible on breaks or at lunch, but everyone knew where he stood, with God. It was so great, it was like an old-fashion church service there were tributes and stories shared about Larry, but for the most part it was just remembering him and how he touched our lives.
Yesterday I got to thinking about all the ways our lives changed when he went to be with the Lord. Have we changed things because of him? I have, he had a saying "No boohoo boxing" meaning no complaining or crying (for me that is an hourly thing). We would talk in the yard and it was like "why cry or complain about things it is not going to change them", you just have to get tough and focus on the situation at hand and do what you can, the best you can and not worry about the rest. And laughing was big with him, (even when it was not that funny) but laughing releases tension he would say and when things are gray and you can't do anything else, laugh. And I have tried to do that this year, since I can't have our chats anymore, a "No boohoo boxing" campaign was launched and I try to laugh more.
I think about how Larry and I met the first time, we really talked. It brings a laugh of embarassment if nothing else, but it is a chuckle. Our sons played soccer together acrossed in the Yak's soccerfields, and Larry would bring his BIG, brown boxer, butch, with him to practice. (I am afraid of big dogs, especially ones that look mean) well I was walking across the field and I saw this brown boxer off his leash and running at me. I did what I usually do when faced with an uncomfortable anxious moment (I panicked). I jumped up on the hood of a car (thank goodness it was an older car, my husband would have killed me if it had dented or cracked the hood) Larry almost doubled over in pain from laughing at me. Turns out this fear inflicting muscular boxer would not hurt a dead fly, he was running to lick and get petted, he turned out to be the sweetest dog you could ever know. Every time he saw me after that, it became an inside joke, "been jumping any lately".
The other thing Larry was famous for was doing things and helping people out, that was his hobby. There was always a project or looking for a project and whenever someone needed something Larry was first one on the scene. Generous is a slight reference to his giving nature. We are in this house because of him, he kept telling us we ought to move in when our lease was up in the other house (2 doors down). When we found out the person that was in here was a renter, we contacted our friends that owned it and asked them about the lease and it was working out that the current tenant was not going to renew and we could move in. Larry would come home after work and load up stuff in his little white toyota and with one other person with a van we moved our whole house with a few loads. Anything mechanical Larry could do. If he saw something on sale or just thought about you when he was shopping he would pick thing up and bring them to you. If he had two of something he gave one away. We have several things we use daily that came from his generousity and care.
We are better for knowing him and his family and we are committed to making his legacy of "doing the right thing and caring about people" as a priority as our daily memorial to him. We want people to remember our friend and the spirit he led his life with until the very end. His youngest son will alway hear us talk about His dad and doing things the right way, so he can learn what his dad was like, and to continue his training with his older two children. It is how we keep things feeling as though he were still here with us. So far, we are keeping each other on the happy side of things and "getting it done", making the kids work and not "play, play, play" as he would always say, work is good for you. The song freebird, yellow roses, the beep beep on trucks backing up, the engine of an old car racing, all things we see and hear and think of Larry.
Looking forward to the day we can sit around a picnic table in heaven and share a laugh with him again. Until then, "No boohoo boxing and just take care of people and doing our part, if everyone would do something, everything will work out".
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