Posted by Joel Feltman on March 27, 2000 at 07:37:05:
In Reply to: Bill Epperhart 1948-2000 posted by Ted David on March 22, 2000 at 07:00:01:
My Friends,
In the wake of Bill Epperhart's passing, his funeral last Friday (3/24), where those who knew and loved him stood to speak so eloquently, I thought this little poem would be altogether fitting and proper:
I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on his tombstone
From the beginning....to the end.
He noted that first came his date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years. (1948 - 2000)
For that dash represents all the time
That he spent alive on earth...
And those who knew and loved him
Know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own;
The cars..the house..the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard...
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
To consider what's true and real,
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile...
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy's being read
With your life's actions to rehash....
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?
As one who knew and respected Bill and will always be truly grateful for his friendship and generosity of spirit, for all that he taught me, and listening to those who knew him before me, I can say without any question or doubt that he spent his dash most worthwhile.
For me there is some comfort in the words of Morrie Schwartz, "Death ends a life, not a relationship." I pray that for all whose lives Bill touched in some way, there is some comfort in this as well.
Joel Feltman,
WCWP Radio, 1972-1989