today a best friend of mine should be turning 22 . unfortunately , his life was cut short this past february .  he changed us all in so many ways , he helped us grow , he helped me to be the person i am today . i am better for having known him - and i feel so blessed for having him in my life in such a prominent way . i am sorry for all the people and all the lives he was meant to touch in the future , but never had the opportunity of meeting in his short 21 years . i do not regret a single day i spent with my friend , but if there is one thing i wish i had done more of - it would be to let him know how much he was truly loved and how much we all valued our friendships with him . i can tell you without a doubt that he was the most caring , genuine , hilarious , brilliant , quirky , interesting , humble , selfless and just flat out wonderful people i will ever know . i miss him very much . we all do . so my hope for all of you reading this is that you realize hoe fleeting life is - let go of all of the small quarrels , the silly little grudges , let go of any pride you may have that is keeping you from picking up the phone and calling a good friend . really - appreciate everyone you have around you and love them as hard as you can . let them feel it . tell them how much they mean to you . you never know . it may be your last chance to say it . it could even save a life . love is a powerful thing . friendship and relationships are what make us who me are . tonight i will be with all of my friends , and my dear friend's family , and we we light fireworks - as it is a tradition every year for his birthday - and we will remember all of the memories we have shared , his contagious laughter , his tendency to be hit by ice cream trucks while riding his bike , we will remember the speed of his steps on the track after school in the afternoon sun , we will remember his gullibility , his dignity , his willingness to help out , his genuine care and happiness of other's successes , we will remember his oddly shaped feet , the adorable way he protected his two little sisters , we will remember everything until that last fire cracker burns out in the black summer sky .

robert - we love you forever .