These things are never easy, loss, losing someone you've known for a day, a semester or a lifetime. It’s not how long someone has
been in our lives but how we spend that small window of time together as we
move through the world we live. I didn’t know why I was chosen to speak other
than many of you know I’ve attended a great deal of wakes and funerals for my
friends but believe me that doesn't make me an expert.
Time, it always boils down to it. We have all these
devices to make our lives easier, hoping it will give us more time and all
these ipads and ipods, laptops, androids and kindles do is steal it from us one
app at a time. But we’re more comfortable complaining about things than doing
what we have too to fix it but we’re letting the little time we have fade into
what will one day be regret.
Dan used his time wisely, he knew he wouldn't have
much of it and so he spent it with those he love, living life the only way he
knew how. To the fullest.
Dan once told me I always knew the right things to
say, even if it meant I didn't say anything at all. But the truth was he knew
the right things to say, when to say them and more importantly when not to say
them. I met Dan in college, we both took a drama class together, an easy A for
me but a career choice for Dan. During those days I was a brawler, getting into
fights just to validate my existence or chip away at some emotional pain.
I had stopped talking to my closest friends, I had
no girlfriend and I guess I felt alone. These were the beginnings of a series of
events that led me and Dan to become friends. I was talking to a girl on the
top parking lot of the HIP. Late for class, as was my norm, not wanting to
leave this girl and then these guys burst in on us. I guess one guy had dated
her and she turned lesbian but since she was now talking to me it was a
problem.
Long story short a fight ensued and ended with me
rushing to class with bruised and bloody knuckles. I walk into the school,
feeling like I had just became a superhero when security spotted me. I honestly
felt like I was going to jail the way they had surrounded me but as they
bombarded me with questions Dan runs in with a camcorder in his hands.
“Orlando did you ruin the makeup on your hands?!” he
shouts so dramatically. I just looked back at him. Honestly I was trying to
remember his name. So he goes on looking at my hands and saying what a good job
someone had done and that Professor Inclan would love it. Dropping the
professor’s name and Dan’s acting got me out of an awkward situation.
Dan was always good in those moments in the way a
soldier’s training would kick in, Dan’s acting would kick in and he’d just be
whomever he needed to be in that moment. That was Dan, the Dan I knew. I have a
ton of memories with Dan, as I know all of you do.
The killer jello shots he made, especially for the
pride parade. The epic plays he would orchestrate for Wright Side productions. The time we tried to act out 50 fun things to
do in an elevator before campus security asked us to leave. So many memories
made in such a short period of time. That was Dan, a friend, a brother, a
master with words, and an actor playing his part in the greatest play on the
greatest stage. And like any great actor he has touched each of us in some way.
Dan, to say you will be missed in an understatement.
It’s often said that “time” heals all wounds but what they don’t say is that it
leaves a scar. I failed you Dan, I failed you and for that I am eternally
sorry. Had I been there, had I known you were fighting this fight I would have
been there with you.
Because you were there for me.
This hurts, seeing you laying there and if you can
see me you’d probably make a joke to break up this mood. I love you, Brother,
we all do. Your chapter in life may have been short but damn, did you make it a
good read. Keep a seat warm for us,
Because we'll have a lot of catching up to do.
