Words fail when it comes to expressing our
sincere gratitude and debt to so many of Geoff’s Maui friends for your
incredible kindness. We were overcome with grief, yet can honestly
say we were equally overcome with gratitude for all your help while we visited
Maui to say good-bye to our boy, our firstborn wonderful son. We couldn’t
have done it without all of you. Max & Debra Blair offered their
guest room to Geoff’s brother Braden & his wife Graseilah. Max & Debra
fed us & insisted we drink the pricey bottle of Dom that he had promised to
share with Geoff. That meant we also had to finish off the bottle of
“Mangocello” (favored by Geoff) that made its way to the Blair home from the
Amalfi Coast. Max keeps his promises. Before we could
blink, we barely mentioned wanting to have a little service for Geoff, when
Kamalu said, “Done!” He and Erik got to work, went to the phones (as did many others!) & a Celebration of Life was organized, hosted by Skyline. I wanted to make
arrangements to feed everyone, & Kamalu said, “Done!” I inquired about
music, and Kamalu said, “Done!” Would we be able to videotape the
Celebration?, I asked . . . done! Kamalu even stopped by to share some amazing
stories with us & to share the tale of Geoff’s last meal at Kamalu &
Najona’s home. We cried buckets. We let it out together with a half
case of Heinekens.
The Sunday Celebration in the Skyline Amphitheater was uplifting
for us. It was the only time that week that our sadness was masked
by inspiration, the thrill of dozens of wonderful folks opening up your hearts
to us just because we are related to Geoff! You changed our lives
with your stories of the man we got to know better because of you. You
hugged us & cried with us. You comforted us. Randall & Rand
played favorite & familiar tunes for us; Kamalu, Erik, Al, Randall &
Braden took the mike to tell “Geoff stories”; Al dedicated his favorite urn to
Geoff; we shared photos of Geoff (with hair!); people ate & reminisced in
one of Geoff’s most happy places. It was perfect; it was family; it
was love.
Now we all can carry that love forward in
Geoff’s name. As Cody expressed it so well, “I know you are flying
high with the birds & I can’t wait to see you in an amazing sunset”. Thanks
for giving us the lift of a lifetime and a book full of your precious insights
into Geoff’s journey amongst us.
Our love
forever.
Bob, Carol & family
