I woke yesterday expecting my day to be filled with sombre quietness and undertones of parting anxiety. It was a day of farewells: to Jack Layton during his state funeral and to a very close friend, who is moving over 4000km away. I know the comparison is not quite precise, but in the pleasant chaos during the course of the day, the two seemed to run parallel.
When I arrived at Nathan Phillips Square that morning, what instantly struck me were the chalk messages written by members of the public from all walks of life and corners of the nation. The plethora of wishes and memorandums were strewn all across City Hall; covering every nook and cranny and converting the concrete into a giant colourful mural of not only text but also drawings of hearts, doves, and 'staches. It was beautifully overwhelming to see such an overt outpouring of love and affection. After so long- it seemed- apathy was no where in sight.
The size of the crowd that showed up was enormous! I'm not sure if 'enormous' even cuts it. Thousands of people poured out onto the streets and thousands more witnessed it all occurring live at home. Almost everyone had something good to say him. At a moment like that, you can't help but wonder how many people have you touched? How many people love/care about you? With everyone (old, young, rich, poor, English, French, etc.) collectively accumulating in the city centre to mourn a loss, you cannot help but admire his far reach and marvel the life he lived and the person he was. As Jack intended, most people left the funeral with a renewed sense of inspiration to help others, hope for the future, and appreciation for the present.
I have known my friend for over 10 years now. 10 years, a lot changes in that time. From barely exchanging two words to being best of friends, a lot has changed. Just as I had witnessed earlier in the day, I learnt that there is nothing like the departure of a beloved to bring people together. The night may have been ordinary, but there was nothing ordinary about the company. Spending time with such awesome people, as we left the gathering, even if we were a bit too scared to look into the future, we most definitely left with an appreciation for the present.
As the day approached culmination, it was evident that the only major difference was that one was an amazing man and the other still is. And I have no doubts that he will continue to be so for years to come.
Farewell...
When I arrived at Nathan Phillips Square that morning, what instantly struck me were the chalk messages written by members of the public from all walks of life and corners of the nation. The plethora of wishes and memorandums were strewn all across City Hall; covering every nook and cranny and converting the concrete into a giant colourful mural of not only text but also drawings of hearts, doves, and 'staches. It was beautifully overwhelming to see such an overt outpouring of love and affection. After so long- it seemed- apathy was no where in sight.
The size of the crowd that showed up was enormous! I'm not sure if 'enormous' even cuts it. Thousands of people poured out onto the streets and thousands more witnessed it all occurring live at home. Almost everyone had something good to say him. At a moment like that, you can't help but wonder how many people have you touched? How many people love/care about you? With everyone (old, young, rich, poor, English, French, etc.) collectively accumulating in the city centre to mourn a loss, you cannot help but admire his far reach and marvel the life he lived and the person he was. As Jack intended, most people left the funeral with a renewed sense of inspiration to help others, hope for the future, and appreciation for the present.
I have known my friend for over 10 years now. 10 years, a lot changes in that time. From barely exchanging two words to being best of friends, a lot has changed. Just as I had witnessed earlier in the day, I learnt that there is nothing like the departure of a beloved to bring people together. The night may have been ordinary, but there was nothing ordinary about the company. Spending time with such awesome people, as we left the gathering, even if we were a bit too scared to look into the future, we most definitely left with an appreciation for the present.
As the day approached culmination, it was evident that the only major difference was that one was an amazing man and the other still is. And I have no doubts that he will continue to be so for years to come.
Farewell...
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