My Obituary

Article 022.

I'm not dying from a disease or anything, at least nothing that I know of. But if I am and my death becomes so sudden, then this would be timely. Perhaps some of the contents are irrelevant, funny to a degree, but the wishes are bona fide. Writing this is befitting if my fate is at its end soon so someone just pluck the excerpt out from here and read it when the time comes. Two shots for that person who will (just read on, you'll understand what I mean). I know, it feels a bit morbid but if we can write about life, then we should be able to write about death as well, right? 

Mike Robel, a little-known Service Manager from a prominent US-based Wi-Fi company, died this morning due to complications arising from immense belief that life will balance out. His life never did. He was 48.

Mike lived his life to the fullest, guided by a decent moral compass but always getting defeated by his immaturity and weak desires for the illicit. Which led him to ethereally cope with the mistakes of his past. The father of two strove to face every day with a positive outlook even on the darkest of mornings and the haziest of nights. Peers considered him as sociable and close friends described him as smartly opinionated. Sometimes when buzzed, he is a bit obnoxious and can be misconstrued as annoyingly flirtatious, but really had no game in him. In the last few months of his existence, he tried sporadically to improve his health and physique and wanted to illustrate his entire life by composing his own autobiography, even if it was presumed that no one in their right mind would be reading his score. Both goals ended in utter failure probably to his own benefit. The self-professed logical thinker insidiously longs for passion, however, would be the first to deny it if confronted. Robel does not believe in romance, at least not in the whimsical sense, and is convinced in his mid-life journey that "calm in love" is his language, or so he says. His affair with cold brew and distilled spirits had on occasions put him in precarious situations, not to mention embarrassing and awkward encounters. Yet it never deterred him from quitting the bottle (significantly tamed leading to this moment though). In his pursuit for equilibrium, the man did his darnest to end conflicts and relationships on a friendly note but more often than not failed miserably. Yet he is never willing to succumb to the idea that everything doesn't work out amicably. There's gotta be a better way is his mantra. His love for his Dad, Mom, Sister and two Sons was his driving force as well as those tight-knit friends who've been there with him through and through.

When asked who Robel is in his life, successful photographer and businessman Eicht O. Ward cherishes his more than four decade-long friendship with whom he considers his best pal for life. "Only time, laughter and the stories would surpass the unimaginable amount of booze we have consumed in this lifetime. I will forever miss my best friend and brother!", says the equally depressed Ward.

Robel leaves behind him a lamentable list of items and responsibilities, which includes fiscal deficiencies, a closet full of clothes and an unwarranted Happy Friday message routine to all those he finds worthy of cheering up at the end of the work week. His last wishes include a one-night wake ceremony where anyone is free to approach the podium to say a few words about him, but with a mandatory shot of liquor (brand of their choice) at the end of the speech -- basically a "No shot, No speech" rule in effect! Also, he wishes that all those he knew would believe in the goodness of others, to give them the benefit of the doubt and to embrace that you never truly know a person until you truly know them. And of course, to let him wear a Packers shirt inside his coffin and the Cheesehead hat on top of his chest in true Green Bay Packers fan form.

Rest in Peace Mike and Go Pack Go!

Any last words?