Friendship is the most beautiful flower
in the garden of life!
Ariel (in Hebrew and Spanish, this name is used for males), was a great classmate and friend. He was always laughing, making jokes, exchanging his comic books, or just messing around, like any teenager. We had study groups,and he was so very willing to help out, specially with math!! He was an artist. He used to make beautiful drawings of just about anything he would see. That was a natural talent, for he never took any type of professional lessons. Ariel was quite handsome he had the biggest, most beautiful green eyes you can imagine, raven black soft curly hair, and a light olive complexion. He wasn't the atletic type, he was rather skinny. He wasn't sport inclined and never participated in any sports at all. During PE, he would go to the library instead. Ariel used to be absent quite a lot. But once back, he'd say it was his asthma that kept him home, and that was that!.
His family were Evangelicals, and so was he. He would, rarely speak of his faith. However, not a lot of people knew this, but he used to carry a bible inside his back pack. In the begining of 8th grade, one day during class, he wasn't feeling well. Ariel got up went outside and wouldn't come back in. The teacher went out to check on him and found him at the end of the hall, crouched down in a corner complaining of abdomial pain; needless to say he was sent home. That, turned out to be the last time we saw him alive. He just stopped coming to school. The teachers would tell us that he was sick, and we thought it was his asthma or perhaps, stomach flu. We tried to visit him at home, but we were never able to make contact with anyone. Sometime later, our teachers gave us the horrible news that he was at the hospital and that he was very sick; he had Leukemia. We were all shocked and very worried, so we organized ourselves into small groups in order to go see him at the hospital. The day before the first group was scheduled to visit him he passed away. Not just his class mates, but basically the whole school went to that funeral, for he was well liked and popular. One by one, we all went by his casket to say goodbye. I touched his hands, as if trying to tell him I'm here Ariel. His hands felt very cold but soft. To this day, that was the most crowded funeral I have ever been to.
After the funeral, we all gathered in school, along with our teachers, to share memories of him and talk about our feelings. We felt hurt because he never told any of us, his friends, that he was seriously ill. But as we kept on talking, slowly, we realized why he did it. He just wanted to feel normal, he wanted to be just a regular teenager. Ariel probably just didn't want to talk about his illness, or didn't want people to be asking questions. Undoubtedly, he didn't want to be constantly reminded about it. Regular teenagers don't talk about serious illnesses or the possibility of death. He didn't want people to feel sorry for him. By ignoring his condition, he was able to be the happy guy we all loved. Ariel knew he wasn't going to live long, and just enjoyed every day as if it were his last. He was successful, for I don't have any memories of him being sad or depressed, not ever.
It's been 33 years since he passed away, but I never forgot him. I keep in touch with other ex-class mates, and they barely remember him. I'm the one always keeping his memory alive. I guess I remember him so much because he was a good friend to me, and his death had a great impact on me. I was just 14 years old. Also, without realizing it, he prepared us for the hard roads ahead in life. The brave way by which he faced his illness, with a bright smile on his face, is really an example to be followed. If he didn't allow a little thing like Leukemia keep him from being happy and smiling all the time, we can face just about anything, as long as we do it with a smile! In addition, his passing made me aware, for the first time, of my own mortality!
Sleep well dear friend, see you later.....
*~*~*~*IN APPRECIATION*~*~*~*
MY MOST HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO MY
FRIEND SENTIMENTAL FELLA, FOR HIS
KIND GESTURE IN SPONSORING MY DEAR
FRIEND ARIEL'S MEMORIAL. YOU'RE
ANOTHER ANGEL ON EARTH GOD BLESS YOU!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
in the garden of life!
Ariel (in Hebrew and Spanish, this name is used for males), was a great classmate and friend. He was always laughing, making jokes, exchanging his comic books, or just messing around, like any teenager. We had study groups,and he was so very willing to help out, specially with math!! He was an artist. He used to make beautiful drawings of just about anything he would see. That was a natural talent, for he never took any type of professional lessons. Ariel was quite handsome he had the biggest, most beautiful green eyes you can imagine, raven black soft curly hair, and a light olive complexion. He wasn't the atletic type, he was rather skinny. He wasn't sport inclined and never participated in any sports at all. During PE, he would go to the library instead. Ariel used to be absent quite a lot. But once back, he'd say it was his asthma that kept him home, and that was that!.
His family were Evangelicals, and so was he. He would, rarely speak of his faith. However, not a lot of people knew this, but he used to carry a bible inside his back pack. In the begining of 8th grade, one day during class, he wasn't feeling well. Ariel got up went outside and wouldn't come back in. The teacher went out to check on him and found him at the end of the hall, crouched down in a corner complaining of abdomial pain; needless to say he was sent home. That, turned out to be the last time we saw him alive. He just stopped coming to school. The teachers would tell us that he was sick, and we thought it was his asthma or perhaps, stomach flu. We tried to visit him at home, but we were never able to make contact with anyone. Sometime later, our teachers gave us the horrible news that he was at the hospital and that he was very sick; he had Leukemia. We were all shocked and very worried, so we organized ourselves into small groups in order to go see him at the hospital. The day before the first group was scheduled to visit him he passed away. Not just his class mates, but basically the whole school went to that funeral, for he was well liked and popular. One by one, we all went by his casket to say goodbye. I touched his hands, as if trying to tell him I'm here Ariel. His hands felt very cold but soft. To this day, that was the most crowded funeral I have ever been to.
After the funeral, we all gathered in school, along with our teachers, to share memories of him and talk about our feelings. We felt hurt because he never told any of us, his friends, that he was seriously ill. But as we kept on talking, slowly, we realized why he did it. He just wanted to feel normal, he wanted to be just a regular teenager. Ariel probably just didn't want to talk about his illness, or didn't want people to be asking questions. Undoubtedly, he didn't want to be constantly reminded about it. Regular teenagers don't talk about serious illnesses or the possibility of death. He didn't want people to feel sorry for him. By ignoring his condition, he was able to be the happy guy we all loved. Ariel knew he wasn't going to live long, and just enjoyed every day as if it were his last. He was successful, for I don't have any memories of him being sad or depressed, not ever.
It's been 33 years since he passed away, but I never forgot him. I keep in touch with other ex-class mates, and they barely remember him. I'm the one always keeping his memory alive. I guess I remember him so much because he was a good friend to me, and his death had a great impact on me. I was just 14 years old. Also, without realizing it, he prepared us for the hard roads ahead in life. The brave way by which he faced his illness, with a bright smile on his face, is really an example to be followed. If he didn't allow a little thing like Leukemia keep him from being happy and smiling all the time, we can face just about anything, as long as we do it with a smile! In addition, his passing made me aware, for the first time, of my own mortality!
Sleep well dear friend, see you later.....
*~*~*~*IN APPRECIATION*~*~*~*
MY MOST HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO MY
FRIEND SENTIMENTAL FELLA, FOR HIS
KIND GESTURE IN SPONSORING MY DEAR
FRIEND ARIEL'S MEMORIAL. YOU'RE
ANOTHER ANGEL ON EARTH GOD BLESS YOU!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Friendship is the most beautiful flower
in the garden of life!
Ariel (in Hebrew and Spanish, this name is used for males), was a great classmate and friend. He was always laughing, making jokes, exchanging his comic books, or just messing around, like any teenager. We had study groups,and he was so very willing to help out, specially with math!! He was an artist. He used to make beautiful drawings of just about anything he would see. That was a natural talent, for he never took any type of professional lessons. Ariel was quite handsome he had the biggest, most beautiful green eyes you can imagine, raven black soft curly hair, and a light olive complexion. He wasn't the atletic type, he was rather skinny. He wasn't sport inclined and never participated in any sports at all. During PE, he would go to the library instead. Ariel used to be absent quite a lot. But once back, he'd say it was his asthma that kept him home, and that was that!.
His family were Evangelicals, and so was he. He would, rarely speak of his faith. However, not a lot of people knew this, but he used to carry a bible inside his back pack. In the begining of 8th grade, one day during class, he wasn't feeling well. Ariel got up went outside and wouldn't come back in. The teacher went out to check on him and found him at the end of the hall, crouched down in a corner complaining of abdomial pain; needless to say he was sent home. That, turned out to be the last time we saw him alive. He just stopped coming to school. The teachers would tell us that he was sick, and we thought it was his asthma or perhaps, stomach flu. We tried to visit him at home, but we were never able to make contact with anyone. Sometime later, our teachers gave us the horrible news that he was at the hospital and that he was very sick; he had Leukemia. We were all shocked and very worried, so we organized ourselves into small groups in order to go see him at the hospital. The day before the first group was scheduled to visit him he passed away. Not just his class mates, but basically the whole school went to that funeral, for he was well liked and popular. One by one, we all went by his casket to say goodbye. I touched his hands, as if trying to tell him I'm here Ariel. His hands felt very cold but soft. To this day, that was the most crowded funeral I have ever been to.
After the funeral, we all gathered in school, along with our teachers, to share memories of him and talk about our feelings. We felt hurt because he never told any of us, his friends, that he was seriously ill. But as we kept on talking, slowly, we realized why he did it. He just wanted to feel normal, he wanted to be just a regular teenager. Ariel probably just didn't want to talk about his illness, or didn't want people to be asking questions. Undoubtedly, he didn't want to be constantly reminded about it. Regular teenagers don't talk about serious illnesses or the possibility of death. He didn't want people to feel sorry for him. By ignoring his condition, he was able to be the happy guy we all loved. Ariel knew he wasn't going to live long, and just enjoyed every day as if it were his last. He was successful, for I don't have any memories of him being sad or depressed, not ever.
It's been 33 years since he passed away, but I never forgot him. I keep in touch with other ex-class mates, and they barely remember him. I'm the one always keeping his memory alive. I guess I remember him so much because he was a good friend to me, and his death had a great impact on me. I was just 14 years old. Also, without realizing it, he prepared us for the hard roads ahead in life. The brave way by which he faced his illness, with a bright smile on his face, is really an example to be followed. If he didn't allow a little thing like Leukemia keep him from being happy and smiling all the time, we can face just about anything, as long as we do it with a smile! In addition, his passing made me aware, for the first time, of my own mortality!
Sleep well dear friend, see you later.....
*~*~*~*IN APPRECIATION*~*~*~*
MY MOST HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO MY
FRIEND SENTIMENTAL FELLA, FOR HIS
KIND GESTURE IN SPONSORING MY DEAR
FRIEND ARIEL'S MEMORIAL. YOU'RE
ANOTHER ANGEL ON EARTH GOD BLESS YOU!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
in the garden of life!
Ariel (in Hebrew and Spanish, this name is used for males), was a great classmate and friend. He was always laughing, making jokes, exchanging his comic books, or just messing around, like any teenager. We had study groups,and he was so very willing to help out, specially with math!! He was an artist. He used to make beautiful drawings of just about anything he would see. That was a natural talent, for he never took any type of professional lessons. Ariel was quite handsome he had the biggest, most beautiful green eyes you can imagine, raven black soft curly hair, and a light olive complexion. He wasn't the atletic type, he was rather skinny. He wasn't sport inclined and never participated in any sports at all. During PE, he would go to the library instead. Ariel used to be absent quite a lot. But once back, he'd say it was his asthma that kept him home, and that was that!.
His family were Evangelicals, and so was he. He would, rarely speak of his faith. However, not a lot of people knew this, but he used to carry a bible inside his back pack. In the begining of 8th grade, one day during class, he wasn't feeling well. Ariel got up went outside and wouldn't come back in. The teacher went out to check on him and found him at the end of the hall, crouched down in a corner complaining of abdomial pain; needless to say he was sent home. That, turned out to be the last time we saw him alive. He just stopped coming to school. The teachers would tell us that he was sick, and we thought it was his asthma or perhaps, stomach flu. We tried to visit him at home, but we were never able to make contact with anyone. Sometime later, our teachers gave us the horrible news that he was at the hospital and that he was very sick; he had Leukemia. We were all shocked and very worried, so we organized ourselves into small groups in order to go see him at the hospital. The day before the first group was scheduled to visit him he passed away. Not just his class mates, but basically the whole school went to that funeral, for he was well liked and popular. One by one, we all went by his casket to say goodbye. I touched his hands, as if trying to tell him I'm here Ariel. His hands felt very cold but soft. To this day, that was the most crowded funeral I have ever been to.
After the funeral, we all gathered in school, along with our teachers, to share memories of him and talk about our feelings. We felt hurt because he never told any of us, his friends, that he was seriously ill. But as we kept on talking, slowly, we realized why he did it. He just wanted to feel normal, he wanted to be just a regular teenager. Ariel probably just didn't want to talk about his illness, or didn't want people to be asking questions. Undoubtedly, he didn't want to be constantly reminded about it. Regular teenagers don't talk about serious illnesses or the possibility of death. He didn't want people to feel sorry for him. By ignoring his condition, he was able to be the happy guy we all loved. Ariel knew he wasn't going to live long, and just enjoyed every day as if it were his last. He was successful, for I don't have any memories of him being sad or depressed, not ever.
It's been 33 years since he passed away, but I never forgot him. I keep in touch with other ex-class mates, and they barely remember him. I'm the one always keeping his memory alive. I guess I remember him so much because he was a good friend to me, and his death had a great impact on me. I was just 14 years old. Also, without realizing it, he prepared us for the hard roads ahead in life. The brave way by which he faced his illness, with a bright smile on his face, is really an example to be followed. If he didn't allow a little thing like Leukemia keep him from being happy and smiling all the time, we can face just about anything, as long as we do it with a smile! In addition, his passing made me aware, for the first time, of my own mortality!
Sleep well dear friend, see you later.....
*~*~*~*IN APPRECIATION*~*~*~*
MY MOST HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO MY
FRIEND SENTIMENTAL FELLA, FOR HIS
KIND GESTURE IN SPONSORING MY DEAR
FRIEND ARIEL'S MEMORIAL. YOU'RE
ANOTHER ANGEL ON EARTH GOD BLESS YOU!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
