A coke and a smile

A red can of coke, a scratch off ticket, a bingo game, a quick smoke outside, the ice machine downstairs, the tomatoes on your sandwich. A smile, a laugh that was unmistakable, always up for a quick drink after work, ready to listen, ready to vent, ready to be the "work mom"...ready with advice and a friendly hug, or a stern talk and a stiff upper lip. Very rarely a cross word was spoken. A mouth like a sailor and a laugh like an angel. You were living the American dream, so happy and content, even when the world was crashing down around you. You wanted three more years till you retired and then to travel the world with the man you have loved your entire life. You would give anything for your kids....for any of us...call any time, that's what you always said. You were the first one to offer a hug and the last one to leave. You were the luckiest person i have ever known, Tuesdays were always full of stories about bingo and the money you won. You would give the shirt off your back if you needed to and were never too proud to ask when you needed someone. You had the most amazing knack for honesty, your smile would light up the room, you had knowledge beyond any of us in the company, you were genuinely a friend to everyone who you met. You once told me that you won't be judged by what you did but by who you are and how you are remembered. You always said that tomorrow isn't a guaranty and reminded me that it's about what you do today. You fought gallantly to the bitter end my friend. The memories of you will live on forever....you left behind the world a better place than when you found it, a lot of people who love you and are honored to have known you. I hope that you are sitting up there tonight, with your bingo cards in front of you winning every single round...you will be missed, but every time I see a coke can I will think of you and smile and know that it was me that was truly blessed to have been able to spend time with you while you were on this earth. Rest in Peace and make sure you yell bingo loud enough every once in a while so we still know that you are there!