Have you ever met someone whose very being radiated with love for life and a heart for helping others?<\/p>\n
I did. I knew the Marsico name for years, but I didn\u2019t meet the tiny dynamo that was Teddy until 2013. I knew within minutes of our first encounter that he\u2019d crossed my path for a reason.<\/p>\n
We were friends almost instantly, which is a miracle in itself. I\u2019m not one to instantly trust anyone, but with Teddy it was easy.<\/p>\n
I could go on and on about him, but I\u2019ll jump ahead to the day he solved the biggest mystery I faced as a new writer. I had a manuscript with no title. Ever the shining knight, Ted sat with me and asked questions. Then, he took out a piece of paper and asked, \u201cHow about this?\u201d<\/p>\n
In his careful, perfect printing, he wrote:<\/p>\n
KLS-9<\/p>\n
i couldn\u2019t breathe. The hair on my arms stood up. I knew this was it. I had a title. He\u2019d figured it out.<\/p>\n
i made sure everyone knew who he was at my first book signing. I let him know how grateful I was. I thanked him in front of everyone – and, true to Ted, he turned around and lifted me up with the sweetest speech.<\/p>\n
After that day, even though we didn\u2019t see each other often, I always knew if I called and said, \u201cI need you,\u201d he would have been at my side before I ended the call. He was so proud when SABRE-6 came out, and every now and again, I\u2019d get a text saying \u201cthinking of you.\u201d Weeks, months would go by, but I always knew he was out there. True Friends always are.<\/p>\n
i still can\u2019t wrap my mind around my dear friend being gone. I pushed the pain away for three weeks. It wasn\u2019t right. It wasn\u2019t fair. I raged. I couldn\u2019t imagine the world without his Light in it.<\/p>\n
When I sucked up the courage to speak at his service, I realized his Light is not gone. I saw it in the eyes of everyone there. But most of all, Teddy\u2019s Light blazed from his two sons, handsome chips off the Marsico block.<\/p>\n
You\u2019re not gone, my forever friend. You touched so many, lifted so many, and we are all better people for knowing you. I can still hear your laughter. I can still see \u201cthat look\u201d you would give me when I\u2019d say something more off-the-wall than usual.<\/p>\n
Thank you. Thank you for your friendship. Thank you for always listening. Thank you for an amazing title. I miss you so much, Teddy. I promise I\u2019ll keep writing. I\u2019m dedicating the third book to you.<\/p>\n
All my love, always.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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