from Reni Kessinger

I was Greg’s stepsister.

I first met Greg at a restaurant in Bellingham when I happened upon Greg and Ernie dining together during one of the visits Greg made to the Northwest. Ernie noticed when I entered the restaurant and immediately stood up to introduce me to his son. What I noticed immediately about Greg – as I imagine everyone does when first meeting him – was how beautiful he was. His smile lit up his face and I was greeted with an easy hello and an outstretched arm. I liked him instantly. What I also noticed while seated across the room from Ernie and Greg was the way in which Ernie and Greg were talking. Father and son were talking intimately and many smiles and laughs were exchanged between them. The next time I saw Greg was during mom and Ernie’s wedding. Greg was in attendance as best man/photographer. Chip, Isabel, Emma and I flew into Bellingham from Montana and I remember that as we walked into Mom’s house, Greg was seated in the lounging chair with a big smile on his face. Upon meeting my daughters for the first time, who were between 3 and 4 years of age, Greg instantly won them over. Again, his quick smile, kindness and easy manner made them feel comfortable. Not long thereafter they were following Greg around while he was taking pictures, giggling and hiding their eyes from him. The day Greg left Mom’s house Ernie was driving him to the airport and Greg leaned out the passenger side window with his arms in the air. As he brought them down he pointed at Isabel and Emma, gave them a big smile and then gave them both the “hang loose” sign. The girls screamed with laughter.

While I grieve deeply for the loss of Greg and for our family whose sense of loss is monumental, I feel that in Greg’s passing, Greg personally left me with a gift. Because of losing Greg I had the distinct honor of meeting and listening to his many friends tell stories of Greg, a Greg that I would never have known with their recounting of past events. Their stories made me laugh and cry. I felt their tears, I felt their loss and I was struck by the depth of each individual’s love of this man. My grief comes from not having known Greg better.

Today I now fully realize and comprehend at a deeper level that the footprints we leave behind really do matter. In living our own lives we need to not just go through the motions, but to really live out lives. We need to take a deep breath and feel the world around us. We need to live more kindly. Greg took life on and lived it on his own terms. He was not afraid of living and not afraid to follow his dreams. Greg was kind, he was compassionate, he loved and was loved in return. Thank you Greg for the gift of this wake up call. I am honored to have known Greg and honored to have been his stepsister.