LifewithDeento

4/15/23

It’s been 8 years now. A lot of memories pop up.

I know you are always present with me and the ones that you love. There are days I wake up frustrated wishing I still had my friend here in this lifetime. 

The memories that popped up this anniversary were the times we were all at our normal spot, Finnegans. You would call it Finnegetitcracken. Or we all called it that, based on a lyric you wrote in one of our comedic rap songs we “produced.” We were all having a beer, pretty sure I was drinking a smithwicks. A taller “bro” started yelling at you about your hat being sideways and for you to fix it. You just kept walking and the taller “bro” went to fix the hat aggressively and I yelled at him.

“What does it matter if his hat is sideways, or straight, it’s just an article of clothing, it doesn’t really matter.” It didn’t come out that smooth but that was the point I drove across and the “bro” got silent and probably agreed. Or he was scared of the 5’7” conquistador yelling at him. 

The cool thing about you was you dressed how you liked, and acted how you liked because that’s what you liked. Nothing else mattered. I always respected that, and was willing to stand up for you in some of the nonsense battles we would get into with the public. 

Another memory I thought was funny was how I would try to manage how we would write our “comedy” rap songs. I would tell people that would join in, ok we need to keep this funny and not be too serious about it. If we start getting serious about it, that’s when it gets embarrassing for us. I would try to encourage less vulgar language so it’s more palatable to the public. 

Well no matter how many times I would say this, you would do the complete opposite haha. My part would be light hearted for the most part. (now some lyrics are offensive) But your part would come on and it would be a part that would have to be turned down around family members. I think that’s what makes it funny now. 

It is cool to capture your voice and listen to it from time to time, but at the same time it would be nice if it were less vulgar haha. Because knowing my true friend, it was a lot deeper than that. We had plenty of conversations about life, philosophy, mental health, drinking, comedy, stupid shit haha. Most of our conversations were about stupid shit. 

I can still hear that laugh or picture the times we would all go out to the Mexican restaurant and order margaritas the size of fish bowls. You would always grab a large handful of mints from the mint bowl in the front of the restaurant, on our way out. Then we would go out to Finnegans or Browns and see what shenanigans we would get into.

The mornings after a night out, we would all get breakfast, if we weren’t too sick to do so. We would go to Marvin’s where your sister worked or some other breakfast joints further down the block, if Marvin’s was too busy. We would all laugh at each other for either how hungover one of us were, or how dumb we were the night before. You’d always ask for cholula hot sauce and marinate your breakfast in it.

Plenty of great memories come to mind more so on this day. It’s a sad day and a day I don’t look forward to. At least, I get flooded with mostly good memories of our friendship, but of course the day of your funeral or the day I found out, were some of the hardest days to process. 

We’ve got a lot to catch up on. But I’m sure you’re here stopping in from time to time.

I’m here looking at my son, who now has your first name as his middle name. I can’t imagine watching my son grow into a great young man and then lose him the way your parents did. A parent should never have to experience a death of their child. It doesn’t get any worse than that.

A saying you used to always say. It is what it is.

What happened did happen and the grief we all feel for your loss is the love we have for you. I grieve the loss of you when the grief waves hit.

But I know, if we talked today. You wouldn’t want us all to stay in the grief either. Maybe be really sad today but live on.

I remember Dan said, “he once said he would want people to be really sad if he died.” In a joking manner.

Well…we are sad. You were a great friend and I’m sure a great son, brother, friend, coworker, etc.

We can never forget the impact you’ve had on all of us.

It can be a dark world sometimes.

Thank you for the bright moments and friendship.

Thank you for the memories.

Love you Vato. 

RIP Jared Wiley Overfield