A lasting impression

How many lives did you touch?
For every one that you did, you left a lasting impression.
So many lives influenced by your words and your actions.
So many different experiences of who you were and what you meant to each of us.
So many terrible jokes left lingering in the back of our minds.

Especially the one about the Swedish and Norwegian truck drivers with a wagon full of penguins.

Our hearts are feeling a little blue right now.
Someday, soon, the colour will return.
When it does, our memories of you will make us smile, fill us with laughter and make us proud that we were blessed to have had you as a part of our lives.

Until then, we will each take some comfort in the fact that although you are no longer with us in body, your spirit walks through your personal haunts and the corridors of work. At least in spirit, you probably aren't spilling a little trail of coffee all the way from the staffroom to your office! I bet you are dancing your mis-matched socks off though.

You have touched us all, in countless ways, and like a hand print in clay, you will forever remain in the hearts and minds of every single one of us.

I have been hunting for photos of Geoff this evening - every one of them was a particular moment in time, typically Geoff, causing laughter, boosting the self esteem of young people, standing hand on hip, just a teensy weensy bit camp, seemingly always with a microphone in hand. It has been a lovely evening reminiscing.
Tomorrow, reflection, prayer, stories and celebration as we pay tribute to a man who would be embarassed by all of the fuss. I hope that we are joined by former colleagues and students, as well as families - I suspect it will be standing room only.

As for how this was done - clay, drew the heart into the clay, then made an impression with my hand. Baked it. Painted it. Photo. Negative image. Tweaked levels. Geoff would have told me I had "way too much time on your hands if you had time to do all of that".

Sleep calls.
Night all
xx