Thursday, May 20, 2010
Dear Bill, Shirley, Jennifer and Peter, I am very sorry for your loss. I don't know how to express the affect that Mike had on my life except to say that he was an exceptional friend. He was unique--even among friends--in that he never demanded anything from me. To tell you the truth, I don't even remember him ever asking for anything from me. He only gave. He was ahead of the curve in all aspects: he introduced me to computers (and computer games,) the music of our generation, skateboarding and countless other innovations/innovative practices. He allowed me to grow up knowing that he would always be there for me, even when I let him down. I remember so much, all of a sudden--the good times we had--going to watch WWF wrestling matches on closed-circuit television, classes that we shared at Chase School and Wallace Middle School and all of the days and nights that I spent at your house in Waterbury. I have only saved about twenty photos from the first 25 years of my life, and two of them are of Michael. I have uploaded them to my Facebook page so that people that knew Michael can remember him. Please email me if you would like the photos. I can also check to see if my parents have any photos of Michael. I don't know if they have any, but I am sure that they would be more than happy to send them to you. Love, Bilal
