The Dash Poem

I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of his friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
from the beginning...to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
and spoke of the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
that she spent alive on earth…
and now only those who loved her
know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own;
the cars…the house…the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard…
are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left.
That can still be rearranged

If we could just slow down enough
to consider what’s true and real,
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
and more often wear a smile…
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy’s being read
with your life’s actions to rehash...
would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent your dash?

by Linda Ellis

Stephanie Baker
Kenny Bourquin
Kris Krug
Kris Krug 1s a fallen hurricane - he passed away last year.  From a classmate

Michael 'Todd' Chiguina

CHIGUINA, MICHAEL "TODD", (Obituary No. 1237.) 32 Ocala - Michael "Todd" Chiguina, 32, died Sunday, October 7th, 2007 in a tragic motorcycle accident in Ocala, Florida. He was born on March 13th, 1975 in West Berlin Germany, the son of U.S. Army (Retired) Willie C. and Elizabeth C. Chiguina, and was the father of three children - Michael Taylor, Riley Maykayla, and Tristan Dean. "Todd" is also survived by his brother John and sister-in-law Stacey and their daughter, his uncles Skip Carter and Major (USAF Retired) Wesley Carter, aunts, cousins and many friends. Todd is also survived by his finance Brandy McCormack, her two children Alexander and Brandon. Todd was an employee of Merita Bread, a former employee of the City of Ocala and was a 1993 graduate of Lake Weir High School. He was a member of many softball leagues, loved to golf, fish and play billiards and was an active and former member of many groups and organizations. Services will be held at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens in Ocala on October 20th at 12 noon. The family requests donations to a memorial fund to benefit the children in lieu of flowers. An account has been established with Bank of America. Published in the Ocala Star-Banner from 10/17/2007 - 10/18/2007.

Jonathan Townsend

Johnathan Townsend fallen hurricane

Brady Franks

Research indicates that Brady passed in 2011

Alysha Rivera

Information provided by a classmate.