When we were born, we were all strangers. Each beginning our own personal journey down the road of life. But now, we all share a common thread in our lives - we all had the honor of knowing Douglas Farnum.
Whether as a husband, a son, a brother - or a best friend - Doug brought each and every one of us an immeasurable amount of joy and happiness and became such an important part of our lives - that we have all gathered here today to pay our respects to the man we all loved so much.
I met Doug in 1996 when he wanted to write a column for the Baron. From the moment I met him, I knew that he was someone who would add a tremendous amount of joy to my life. And in the five years that I spent as his very close friend - he certainly proved me right.
From holidays at each other's homes to dinners at countless restaurants to thousands of other memories - I hold each and every moment I spent with Doug very close to my heart - because they were some of the best times of my life.
But my friendship with Doug and the relationship that each one of us had with him did not end on September 11th - they have only begun.
I know that as I continue to travel down my road of life, Doug will still be right there by my side - and alongside each and every one of us. Through the times we shared with him, the advice and friendship he gave us - and the important life lessons we learned through him - we will all continue our lives as better people thanks to the time we shared with Doug. I know that personally, Doug has taught me the value of life itself, the meaning of respect - and the true definition of friendship. Not a day of my life will go by where I will not thank God for the friendship Doug and I had - and pray that he is resting in peace.
There is a poem by an unknown author called Too True Too Often that was given to me in a frame by Amy and Douglas a few years ago that I have hung in my bedroom under a picture of Doug and Amy from their wedding day. Underneath the poem, Doug and Amy wrote the words, ³May these words become words to live by and stay in your thoughts each day you awaken to greet the world.² As I read this poem again a few days ago, I thought it would be the perfect way to express how myself and all of us feel about Doug. And as I now read these words to all of you - I ask that you do what Amy and Douglas asked me to do - make these words to live by and keep them in your thoughts each day as you awaken to greet the world:
Too often we don't realize what we have until it is gone.
Too often we wait too late to say, ³I'm sorry - I was wrong.²
Sometimes it seems we hurt the ones we hold dearest to our hearts.
And we allow foolish things to tear our lives apart.
Far too many times we let unimportant things into our minds.
And then it's usually too late to see what made us blind.
So be sure that you let people know how much they mean to you.
Take that time to say the words before your time is through.
Be sure that you appreciate everything you've got.
And be thankful for the little things in life that mean a lot.
Growing old is a privilege denied to many.
leave behind regrets.