Teardrops and Last Thoughts…
June 15, 2008
I haven’t been able to write this post for a week now, but it dawned on me that now is the best time to get it out of my system. On June 7 we lost a friend, a brother, Faridullah Abbasi, to a thoughtless act of crime. Our entire community is suffering; Fred to say the least, was well-liked. There’s nothing anybody can say to his family, friends, and loved ones that will take away any of the pain or erase any of the many memories running through our minds. It just hurts. It will always hurt.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhee raji3oon. Uncle Fred, I hope you are resting now. I hope you’ve found that cushy seat in Jannah, where we all wish to be someday. We all can’t believe you’re no longer with us. We all wish for one more day, one more conversation with you, one more photograph, one more hug and kiss. Anything. Instead we will grasp our prayer rugs and prayer beads as the tears drop down our cheeks. Instead we will ask God to forgive you and forgive us. We will ask Him to take good care of you. We will try to smile reminiscing and thinking of yours, because, Farid, it was a great smile.
I remember how you and your cousins took such good care of me when I came to LB. I remember your greetings and hugs in the hallways between classes. I remember all of us standing around the showcase. I remember Halloween. I remember the football games… Your wit and profound intelligence. You are loved. Thank you for loving us. You are missed. You are in our thoughts and prayers every single day and we wish your family the strength of a thousand soldiers as it becomes apparent to all of us that reality cannot be escaped, at least not for very long.
I am sorry that you didn’t get to do all the things you wanted to, but I assure you, and I assure all of my friends that are mourning you this week, you are protected now. You are safe. And we live on knowing so.
Rest in peace, brother. We’re not that far away. Please, please look after us.
