Yesterday we said good-bye to a friend. It was the final good-bye.

Several weeks before his passing, he and I were at work and he was telling me about a jacket he had just ordered. "It's the best jacket ever," he said with a sunshine-filled smile. He proceeded to tell me what a value it was and how he couldn't wait to try it out in the rainy season. He looked away for a second, then with a big toothy grin said "YOU... should get one!" I explained that my life was complete without another jacket in it- but he insisted..."try mine on... you'll love it!". "Nate... your jacket wouldn't fit me!" I responded. But he continued with a goofy grin..."No...seriously, try it on...I'm telling you... you'll love it." Each time we saw one another after that he asked "have you tried it on yet?" Finally one day, I went in the breakroom and saw it hanging there. I put it on. The sleeves were hanging way past my hands, the shoulders droopy and the thing looked like a tent on me. I begrudgingly walked out to the sales floor. He looked up and laughed "Looks great on you!" We shared some silly giggles about the coat and he insisted I consider getting one... in my size. He really loved that jacket.

When you hear of death, all sorts of things go through your mind. Among other thoughts, oddly, was how he wouldn't get to see if his favorite jacket worked for our rainy season. The thought made me so sad. I wondered where his jacket would end up. Death is so final and you leave the pages of life just where you stopped....his facebook page is still up, clothes still in his closet, etc. They don't put luggage racks on tombstones.

The mood was quiet, there were lots of tears. His wonderful parents greeted each person as they entered the family area, where Nathan's body was resting. With each new person, were more tears and hugs. I couldn't wrap my head around how difficult that day was for them. They were burying their 27 year old son.

We stood in a line filled with friends and family and watched a slideshow of his life in pictures...memories of him smiling with his motorcycle, paddling on a lake with him Mom, at his brother's graduation, etc. Finally we got up close enough where we could look in and see Nathan resting. I burst out in tears...his family had chosen to lay him to rest.. in his favorite jacket. The hood was up, and tucked in with him, was a map of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area. He looked perfect- just as I remember him-not like death had won. Through tears, I told his Mother how much he was loved and how perfect their choice of outfit for him was. We shared a teary-eyed smile about him making me try it on. He resembled his father so much that it was almost uncanny. His father embraced us and we shared some more tears. We walked over to beautiful, resting, Nate and said good-bye. I will never forget him- he brightened the lives of so many people. In life he brought us all together... he did the same in death.

Yesterday was a hard day. Today is better. I will live life to it's fullest and maybe...I'll even stop and consider ordering a new jacket.