Life Moves Pretty Fast

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”  – Ferris Bueller

That’s one of my favorite cinematic quotes of all time, sprung from the brain of premium 1980’s film auteur John Hughes and delivered by the eternal teenage hero Ferris Bueller, it distills a very basic truth of life.  When my father passed away suddenly in July, it rocked my world like I never thought anything could.  When I was 24 and one of my best friends passed away in a car accident moments after he’d just dropped me off at my truck, it shattered me.  When I received the news last night that our friend Jeromy Hooper had passed away suddenly, I was numb and emotional immediately. It didn’t seem real.  Jeromy and I weren’t best beds by any means, my in person interactions with him can be counted on one hand.  However, in those brief moments, Jeromy was always genuine, damn funny, happy and real.  His online persona was much the same and is how many of us knew him best.  His tweets and Facebook posts were the most witty to be found anywhere.  He was quick with a joke and quick to tell you what he believed in.  He believed in nothing more firmly than the songwriting talents of his brother Larry.  He beamed so proud at Greenfest last summer as Larry played his songs.  Beamed in between older brother banterly jokes that poked fun at Larry…but the pride was always there at the surface.  Life does move fast and many of us get caught up in the bustle of things and miss far too much.  Jeromy didn’t miss much, whether it was a punchline, a song lyric or being an amazing husband, father, brother and friend.  He will be deeply missed by all who knew him, but please learn from his example.  Be kind, be authentic, be loving…and always have fun.  RIP JHoop.