Today I lost a friend. I have never lost someone as close to me as Shane was, so this is a weird feeling. I knew this day would come- that someone closer to me than a distant relative would pass, but still, I am in shock. Shane's passing is a surprise because he was only in his early thirties and apparently died from complications to the flu. When I talked to him a few days ago, he sounded completely fine.
Shane used to work with me while I was a valet manager at Lakeside Hospital. We used to talk every day about the Cleveland Indians, the New York Giants, and the Nebraska Cornhuskers, his three favorite teams. He was a small man- probably 5'6 and 100 pounds, but he was one of the hardest workers I had ever known. He was also one of the most reliable workers I had ever known. He rarely complained, but when he did he made sure he had bit his tongue as long as he could first. He was a bit of an introvert, but once the shyness wore off, he would always give the warmest of greetings and open right up.
Shane lived a rough life. Apparently he moved out of his mother's house when he was 15 and soon survived by getting a job with a local horse racing owner. He loved horses, even after they injured him by kicking him or running over his foot. He worked in the horse racing industry for several years until he became a valet at Lakeside Hospital.
When I first met Shane in 2008, I thought he was a little rough around the edges, but once I got to know him I quickly noticed how he was an incredibly good person. After I quit working at Lakeside last July, we still kept in touch. Last Thursday I talked to him for a good hour about how much Missouri's football team is overrated and his future plans to go back to school.
Shane was a one-of-a-kind person. He had a good heart. I will cherish the moments we shared. I will miss him very much.
I'm a teacher, musician, and filmmaker from Lawrence, Kansas https://twitter.com/beatmastermatt
