Ralphie we hardly knew ye. Who was Ralph some of you might ask? Those of you who know will understand.

As I suspected would happen, I had a moment when I thought, “Hey, I haven’t talked to Ralph in a while; I should give him a call.” And then I realized that I could not; Ralph wouldn’t answer.

I wrote about the very phenomenon in a piece shortly after he died (https://joebroadmeadowblog.wordpress.com/2024/02/06/and-now-comes-the-hard-part/)

It is in these moments, long after someone close to you passes, that the realization finally hits home.

Now, I don’t want to revisit the sadness of those days or cause anyone who remembers Ralph any more grief. On the contrary, I want to remind us of the joys of friendship and family in which Ralph played such a big part.

I can still hear the echoes of his voice in the myriad of conversations we had. Conversations that began as adolescents on the cusp of high school and ran the gamut to adulthood and beyond.

It was an exhilarating, frustrating, hilarious, somber, exciting, frightening, and irreplaceable experience.

His voice will echo in my mind until I experience the final moments. Over time, it will fade a bit and become intertwined with the reality, vagaries, and creativity of memory. But it will forever be a part of me.

I miss the guy. I wish there had been more conversations. But I am glad for the ones we had and for the memories that persist.

For those of you who knew Ralph, pluck a memory from your mind. Savor it, relive the moments, and be grateful we had those moments to share. And, most importantly, keep making those memories with those who still walk among us.

Time will come soon enough when we are all but memories…