of Shahriar Yekrangi (Dec. 26, 1975 - March 26, 1999)...
I know the Blog was meant to keep you in touch with us and especially Marisa. But, today I had to take the time to write about our dearest friend, Shah. I have been thinking about what I was going to say in this entry for a while now. Not sure how I could possibly express to you all how much he meant to all of us.
It was 7 years ago, today that the world lost a great man to a tragic car accident. I remember the day so clearly, as if it were yesterday. The pain of it all felt like the wind had been knocked out of me and as I gasped for breath, I felt like the world had stopped moving. There was no way that what Josh was telling me was true. It had to be some mistake. How were we supposed to go on without Shah? He was such a vital part of our circle of friends and I always felt that he was the gel that held us all together. However, his memory and spirit still holds us together.
I can't even begin to describe the greatness that was Shah. His spirit, his soul, his humor & his mind were above all others. He had a pure heart who gave everyone a chance without judgement and taught so many to love. Wherever he went, his laughter filled the room and everyone was drawn to him in so many ways. I remember how much my parents loved him because of how respectful he was. Whenever he came to my house to pick me up to go to school, he always made it a point to find them, say hello and to ask how they were. And, before we left he would seek them out to say goodbye. He was the friend that was ALWAYS late, and everyone just said..."oh, it's shah". He was deeply religious and never faltered from the beliefs of the Baha'i Faith. I think Shah's biggest flaw was always putting everyone else above himself. He was the most selfless person I'd ever known.
The day of my wedding was the last time I saw Shah. He died exactly 6 weeks later. The news of his death shocked not only family and closest friends, but also those who had met him for the first time at my wedding. Shah left such an unforgettable impression on all who met him, that even those who were around him for that brief moment shed tears on the news of his passing. For Shah's friends, life as we knew would never be the same. How were we going to move on without him? Time does heal, but it definitely doesn't let us forget. I think of Shah on an almost daily basis for fear that I will forget the times and memories that we shared together. I'm thankful that I was blessed to have known someone with such an amazing heart. I have peace in knowing that he's watching down on us from Heaven and that he's Marisa's guardian angel.
Kenny Chesney's Song, Who You'd be Today, expresses exactly how I feel:
Sunny days seem to hurt the most.
I wear the pain like a heavy coat.
I feel you everywhere I go.
I see your smile, I see your face,
I hear you laughin' in the rain.
I still can't believe you're gone.
It ain't fair: you died too young,
Like the story that had just begun,
But death tore the pages all away.
God knows how I miss you,
All the hell that I've been through,
Just knowin' no-one could take your place.
An' sometimes I wonder,
Who'd you be today?
Would you see the world? Would you chase your dreams?
Settle down with a family,
I wonder what would you name your babies?
Some days the sky's so blue,
I feel like I can talk to you,
An' I know it might sound crazy.
It ain't fair: you died too young,
Like the story that had just begun,
But death tore the pages all away.
God knows how I miss you,
All the hell that I've been through,
Just knowin' no-one could take your place.
An' sometimes I wonder,
Who you'd be today?
Today, today, today.
Today, today, today.
Sunny days seem to hurt the most.
I wear the pain like a heavy coat.
The only thing that gives me hope,
Is I know I'll see you again some day.
Some day, some day, some day.
I miss my dear friend!!! I thank God for giving us the chance to know him even if only for a brief moment. Our lives are better for knowing him and I wouldn't trade our time with him for anything! Although, I know that he knew how much he meant to me, I wish I had one more chance to tell him in my own words. I've learned that it's so easy to take the ones you love for granted...so, do take the time today to tell them you love them and how much they mean to you!
