A Loss of Epic Proportions

This blog isn't always about sports. This blog is about life. While that may sound profound, slightly narcissistic, a little deep and maybe partly untrue, the members of Views from the Couch suffered an immeasurable loss this weekend, far beyond measure.

Greater than any September Collapse, any helmet-grasping catch, or any 3-point dagger that tickles the twine; we lost a friend, an uncle, a confidant and most importantly a father to our esteemed JLang this weekend.

As one of our devoted readers, noted ball-busters and witty conversationalists Gil Lang has moved on to life's greener pastures while touching each and every one he came in contact with inestimably.

It's hard to quantify what a person is until he or she is gone and you have time to reflect. It's even harder when they have had more of an impact on a community than one single person. These are the pillars of strength and people that life should be built around.

When a man that cares more about others than himself, had two children and cherished his time with them more than anything in the world; is taken at such a young age it makes you wonder if there is really a plan or if everything is just random chance.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "It's not length of life, but depth of life". While the philosophical side of that statement is accurate enough, the length of life seems more important than anything, especially when someone you love is taken far before what you would deem to be an acceptable age.

A father is not something you should take for granted. I, for one, was dealt a pretty strange one that didn't always make the best decisions with drugs and alcohol but when he died last year it you realize that despite all his faults a bad person he wasn't, just a bad decision maker.

Gil would not let one of his vices get in the way of being a father. Gil's son, JLang, is just about 22 years old. Gil was 22 years sober. Talk about the measure of a man. This man gave up something so powerful, for his unborn child, and for that testament of will-power alone you have not only earned every fiber of respect that I own, but as far as I am concerned, a true act of heroism.

Gil I am truly a better person for knowing you and thank you for blessing me with the time that I got to spend with you. May you Rest in Peace, friend.

"Life is a moderately good play with a badly written third act." – Truman Capote

 

Truer words have not been spoken.

Stay Tuned

 

Norton