Recently, one of my best friends of nearly 30 years was called home by our Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, I feel a big hole in my soul. The last six to eight weeks have been rough. I will never again be able to go to the races with him. There will be no more goose hunts or conversations about Ford versus Chevy.
At the time of his death, Trinity E. Lang was 52 years old. By today's standards, that seems young. Many factors contributed to this, but my feeling of loss remains unchanged. Ultimately, my buddy was struggling with some things, and he's now in a better place.
My wife, Jennifer, posted this on Facebook, and it effectively summarizes the theme of what Trinity meant to our family.
We’re really going to miss Uncle Trinny. He’s been a part of our lives for over 20 years, really one of the few people who knew what it was like to live in Goon’s World after all those trips to the hunting shack with Eric. He helped Eric raise Abby all those evenings & weekends I was working shifts and was a special Godparent to her. We’ll miss his sense of humor, laughter, hugs, and friendship.
Lol! It's no small task being able to live in Goon's World. I don't know how my wife has managed to do it for 28 1/2 years, but Trin also managed to pull it off.
But I digress.
Trinity was like a brother to me. He was my daughter's Godfather, and he was always there when I needed him. If I needed help with fixing my lawnmower, Trinity would help me. My wife once called him our spare husband because he fixed those things that I couldn't.
When we were hunting, he shot many ducks but failed to take credit for them. He'd say, Eric, you shot that one, and I knew that I was nowhere near it and couldn't hit the broad side of a mountain on that particular day.
During the period from approximately 2008 to 2017, we had a hunting shack near Starkweather, ND, and spent many weekends there enjoying God's Grocery store. There were many adventures, too many to name in this short post. We also spend many nights at the fire pit or on the deck, solving all the world's problems. Trinity referred to his place as a refuge because it really was a mental health escape from the rat race that life throws at us.
We attended numerous dirt track races, including World of Outlaws events featuring both sprint cars and super late models. The John Seitz Memorial was a yearly must-see event. Next weekend isn't going to be the same without him.
I am not big on giving advice, because I have many faults and ticks, some of which drive my wife nuts. With that said, we're all human beings. To those who are experiencing the loss of a friend or family member, remember you're not alone. We don't have to go down the path alone. We can lean on each other to make life a better experience.
One thing in life is for sure: we're all going to die eventually. Each and every one of us. Remember the good days, laugh, smile, live in the moment, and don't look back. Be thankful that the person was a part of our lives. We know that we are better people for having had them in our lives.
Here's my advice: pay attention to the little subtle comments the people around you make. Observe the subtle signs that all is not as it seems. If someone you know seems off, ask them, "Hey, can I check in with you for a moment. You've been through a lot, and I want to make sure you're doing okay." Listen to what they have to say. You might save a friend's life.
I am off to Devils Lake, ND, to watch my buddy be inducted into the Devils Lake Speedway Hall of Fame.
No doubt, I will miss you, buddy. Vios con Dios. To quote the late Ozzy Osborne, "I'll see you on the other side."
