I'll miss you..

Manuel, You’ve only been gone for a few days but my heart misses you sooo much. I remember our first years as siblings, things were CRAZY! I was about 7 when our parents became as you would call them “the parentals” and all of a sudden, I had 2 older brothers and I just remember thinkin’ ..boy these guys are CRAZY! Especially Manuel J he just doesn’t stop, or as everybody else calls you, Manny.

You and I have always shared a special connection, both being the middle child, both big dreamers and we could talk for hours about anything, …about life, psychology, God, people and how different we are. As time passed, We grew up and shared soooo many good and fun memories. You were always the life of the party, the center of the room, the loudest intelligent mind I have ever met. You were also always the one who charmed the ladies, and boy did they love you. Even when you were younger, I recall how all the girls in church would always want to come to our house to supposeably hang out with Marina, me and Isela… I ended up figuring out that although I’m sure they enjoyed my company J, they would also love to be in the same place as you.

You were friends with everybody, and as you would say, I DONT DISCRIMINATE J ….I love how you always made an effort to befriend anybody, no matter who they were or how they looked, you knew how to love and you did it well. In return, you were shown love from everybody you came across. I’ll never forget the year that we worked together at Olive Garden, you kept talking about how easy serving was and that you would soon run the place…you were my best and favorite partner…the two of us would tag team customers at the table and because of you, they wouldn’t know what hit ‘em..lol. And with a huge grin on your face, You would introduce me to all of your tables as you put your arm around my shoulder and proudly say, this is “my little sis”.

Your whole life, you experienced your share of rough patches but you never forgot how to show your love to family and your friends. I’m so proud of you for having such a big commitment o family, for being a proud father, supportive brother, loving son and loyal friend. You are truly a one-of a kind character, a legend, an innovator, a trendsetter, a man who always had a witty line to say about everything, a man who would give whatever you had if somebody needed it which is why when it was all said and done, you gave life to five others with your own. Your life has a been a gift to the world and will only you can leave this world with such a bang! J for all of us to remember….

One thing I look forward to telling my son, your “Siah” is that his uncle many was there just minutes after he was born, and held him with such pride. You taught him to dance and kick his feet when he was still an infant and I’ll forever remind Josiah, that his uncle Manny is the one who taught him to first dance.