Today is January 8, 2001 and the three month anniversary of Mike's death. I felt very compelled to write my thoughts. I hope all of you are doing well and wish you a very Blessed New Year.Keep in touch for it keeps our family going.

Love to all. PS If you have any stories you would like to share please put them on the web page.

Mike's Mom (Bev) and family

One of Doug's (Tuckers brother) friends adopted a Bald Eagle in Mike's Memory at the Cincinnati zoo and will feed it for a year. Their will be a plaque placed by the eagle in his memory. Very appropriate for a guy who soared .

Mike,

What can I say, Thank you for being a part of my life. You were always there when I was down or needed a friend. You touched so many people with that smile and look in your eye. I am a better person because of you. I love you, I miss you and can't wait to see you again.

Laura

Tuck, so much of who I am is because of you. You taught me so much. You taught me to not just look at a landscape, but to see the tiny little purple flower that is hidden behind the log. You taught me to like vegetables that I would not think of eating before and you taught me how to cook (my favorite shrimp wrapped in bacon marinated in pepper sauce). You taught me to seize the moment if my heart desires. So on and so on, etc., etc. more and more I continue to discover........ I am a better person for knowing you and you will always be with me.

Talk atcha later, say "hi" to Sunny for me,

Nikki

Life is for laughing, loving and living each day, and Mike lived in this way. I always remember walking into the Sig house and hearing Mike yell "hey Fitz!!" That always made me smile. My thoughts are with Mike's family and close friends at this time. He will be deeply missed by myself and many others. My Wilmington College years were the best of my life.

Peace,

Andy Fitzenrider

WC 1993

From The Prophet

Kahlel Gibran

On Death

Than Almitra spoke, saying, "We would ask now of Death."

And he said:

You would know the secret of death.

But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life?

The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light. If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life.

For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.

In the depth of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond;

And like seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring.

Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity.

Your fear of death is but the trembling of the shepherd when he stands before the king whose hand is to be laid upon him in honour.

Is the sheered not joyful beneath his trembling, that he shall wear the mark of the king?

Yet is he not more mindful of his trembling?

For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?

And what is to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?

Only when you drink form the river of silence shall you indeed sing.

And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.

And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.

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