one of my dad's best friends died late last night, after being very sick for a whole year. he is the first in my dad's group of friends to die, and that's why his death hits awfully close to home.

he was hard-working, and hard. he was highly focused, and merciless sometimes. he had a successful career, a marriage that lasted 39 years until his death, three kids and three grandchildren. he was a devout catholic who believed in heaven.
he always wanted to be first with everything, he was the first to start playing golf, the first to have a driver, the first to have a million in the bank, now he is the first to die.

i hope you're resting peacefully, klaus.