Another Farewell.
I received an e-mail today from an old friend. Most of the time, these are a wonderful and welcome change from the e-mails I usually get - typically, I get feed from library job listserves, Monster.com and Realtor.com. Today, though, the e-mail from my old friend contained the sad, sad news of the passing of Ted Warshafsky.
Ted was the founder of the first law firm I worked for. He was a truly a force of nature. He was a gifted attorney and a true advocate for the rights of injured people. He was passionate about the law and beyond dedicated. He was inspiring. And a little scary. But I have truly fond memories of working with him - I loved Ted - in a completely work appropriate sense.
One of my favorite memories of Ted is this: I was engaged to Pete and we were planning our wedding when I started working there. We ended up inviting him, along with several others at the firm, to the wedding. On the day he received the invitation, he buzzed me to his office. When I got there, he said in almost one single breath, "Ok, first things first, I see you're getting married. Congratulations. Ok, so about this file, I need..." When I got back to my desk, I couldn't stop laughing about that. Honestly, that was one of the best jobs ever.
When I read my friend's e-mail, it was like a punch to the stomach. I knew Ted was getting up there and that one day, I would get this news, but I still couldn't believe he could actually be gone. Ted is like a fixture, like he would always be there. But even with the shock, I was doing ok. Until I read this comment from my friend's FB post: "He and Gizmo are jumping off the end of the pier as we speak." I lost it when I read that. I don't even know who Gizmo is, although I assume it is Ted's dog. So when I read that, I instantly have this image of Ted and a dog that in my head looks like Solomon, reunited, just running together down a pier, leaping off into cool, clear water - pure, carefree happiness. Pure joy.
I hope that Ted actually had moments like that in his life. The only side I really ever saw of him was the highly driven law partner, but I think Ted knew how to have fun, too.
And I really, truly hope that the next life is exactly this. To be reunited with all the people - and pets - who matter, and to just experience pure, carefree joy. I wish it sincerely for Ted... and Doc..and Hazel...and Connie...and Dale.
This has been a tough year, so many people gone who had a huge impact on my life at various points. Some of them I was maybe not all that close to, but they all had a huge impact on my life. All of them taught me something, and I am a different person for knowing each of them. I will miss each of them, and wish all of them, and all who have gone before them, nothing but peace and joy in the next life.
Ted was the founder of the first law firm I worked for. He was a truly a force of nature. He was a gifted attorney and a true advocate for the rights of injured people. He was passionate about the law and beyond dedicated. He was inspiring. And a little scary. But I have truly fond memories of working with him - I loved Ted - in a completely work appropriate sense.
One of my favorite memories of Ted is this: I was engaged to Pete and we were planning our wedding when I started working there. We ended up inviting him, along with several others at the firm, to the wedding. On the day he received the invitation, he buzzed me to his office. When I got there, he said in almost one single breath, "Ok, first things first, I see you're getting married. Congratulations. Ok, so about this file, I need..." When I got back to my desk, I couldn't stop laughing about that. Honestly, that was one of the best jobs ever.
When I read my friend's e-mail, it was like a punch to the stomach. I knew Ted was getting up there and that one day, I would get this news, but I still couldn't believe he could actually be gone. Ted is like a fixture, like he would always be there. But even with the shock, I was doing ok. Until I read this comment from my friend's FB post: "He and Gizmo are jumping off the end of the pier as we speak." I lost it when I read that. I don't even know who Gizmo is, although I assume it is Ted's dog. So when I read that, I instantly have this image of Ted and a dog that in my head looks like Solomon, reunited, just running together down a pier, leaping off into cool, clear water - pure, carefree happiness. Pure joy.
I hope that Ted actually had moments like that in his life. The only side I really ever saw of him was the highly driven law partner, but I think Ted knew how to have fun, too.
And I really, truly hope that the next life is exactly this. To be reunited with all the people - and pets - who matter, and to just experience pure, carefree joy. I wish it sincerely for Ted... and Doc..and Hazel...and Connie...and Dale.
This has been a tough year, so many people gone who had a huge impact on my life at various points. Some of them I was maybe not all that close to, but they all had a huge impact on my life. All of them taught me something, and I am a different person for knowing each of them. I will miss each of them, and wish all of them, and all who have gone before them, nothing but peace and joy in the next life.
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