Everyone’s reaction to gaining a new sibling is different.
Upon hearing the news at just three years old, I was nothing but excited to meet this new bundle.
However, when my dad was a kid, his experience was much different.
“Another sister?!!” He cried, running outside to mope on the swing set for the next hour.
Fortunately, for me, gaining a brother was one of the best things to ever happen.
As we grew up side by side, my world expanded as I got a glimpse into the life of another. As kids, our imaginations ran wild and free.
Barbie dolls quickly dumped their Ken dolls when the braver, more heroic G.I. Joe came to town.
After we watched Pearl Harbor for the first time, we both agreed to enlist in the Navy and spend our lives fighting for our country.
We ran orphanages from our basement and were ski patrollers during the winter, recusing the hurt from snow banks in our front yard.
With Kenny, anything was possible.
With Kenny, I could be anyone I wanted to be.
What I didn’t realize at the time, was that he was showing me all the things I could be in this life.
As we grew older, I left for college and our relationship went through the usual ebb and flow of sibling relationships. However, even through all the changes, one thing remained consistent between us: our love for music.
Kenny found life in music.
and after Kenny’s musical awakening- mine came shortly thereafter.
We found that when life became dark and speaking our true feelings became hard, music always had just the right words.
“We found that music is love in motion. It’s more than a soundtrack buzzing and whirring in the background of life; it’s the entire show. It’s the divine spark flickering from soul to soul, connecting us to one another, to ourselves, and to the heartbeat of the universe. It flows within us and without us. It’s everywhere; it’s everything; it’s all we need. In music’s company, we discovered- and rediscover- who we truly are.”
On February 13th, 2018 an angel came and called his name and took him by the hand, said his place was ready in Heaven. We were heartbroken, we were numb, we were in disbelief that a piece of our hearts was gone so soon.
Yet when Kenny passed, we are starting to see all that he left behind.
He left behind his song.
His sheet music- which can be our map to life.
Yesterday, my Aunt Cheryl pulled me aside and- said, you know what, I’m ready to get out there and find my purpose. Kenny lit the fire in each and every single one of us.
Because all we can do now is live for him each and every day, and keep singing his song.
For Kenny was the music in our lives and our task is to sing for him, and with him.
Love is our center; music is what binds us.
On good days, his song will be as clear as a summer day- glistening in breeze. It might sound like Bob Marley or a chirping bird from an open window.
And on the hard days, when his song seems distant, unrecognizable, and out of range, all we have to do is step back and take a deep breath.
His song will always be playing, even in the dark.
Kenny came here to teach us all to how to love and how to live.
He did his job well and maybe that’s why the angels wanted him back so soon.
His work here was done, and now we can only follow in the footsteps he left behind.
And as I remember his life,
I realize it’s teaching me more how to live mine.
And our family chain isn’t broken- instead, it now extends far beyond this earthly realm with a hand in Heaven. It’s only brought all of us closer to God.
Kenny –my brother, my hero, my humble warrior.
You were soft, yet strong,
You were gentle, yet fierce.
You were truly everything a man should be.
From this day forward, I am living solely for you.
