Josh Brodesky, The Arizona Daily Star columnist, was also friends with Steve Vihel, who died a week ago.
Brodesky wrote a touching tribute to Steve in today’s paper. Here is an excerpt, but be sure to read the whole thing.
Well done Josh.
The medical staff had brought two sixers of beer to the hospital that morning, and Steve Vihel proposed a toast.
He didn’t have much strength and had to sip the beer through a straw, but he raised the bottle to his father, godmother, brother and girlfriend.
“Here’s to new beginnings,” he said.
He was not scared or anxious. Even as his family had wept around him in recent days, he stayed calm, comforting them with a smile. Only once did he cry, but that was because he loved them all so much.
Sometimes the currency of gratitude is tears.
That was a lovely tribute.
Agreed! Imagine raising a toast to new beginnings on the very last day of your life.
That was Steve.
That’s one hell of a tribute.
It’s humbling to see someone with so much stacked against them living out loud when it’s all too easy for the rest of us to live in complaint or with excuses for the hurdles life presents us. It’s heartening and inspiring to see someone such as Steve wringing every bit from life while we perhaps let too much slip by. Humanity is so much better for having had Steve as a member.