Goodbye, Dear Friend.

This past Tuesday afternoon, a man I've known my whole life went on to Glory. His name is Mike Salters and he will be dearly missed by so many people. Though he and his wife never had children, he still left quite a legacy.

Mike and Irene lived four doors down from me my whole life. I grew up in the all-American neighborhood. Everyone knows everyone else, every one waves at you when you drive by, and we always had block parties where everyone on the street would get together. We are all friends, and I love it.

Mike grew up in Michigan, and loved the cold weather.No matter what time of year it was, even in icy weather, he was always sitting in the garage watching his little tv and waving as you passed by. Growing up, I'd always go to see him and play with his dogs. It was nice, as a child, to have someone like Mike around. He'd tease all the neighborhood kids and cut up with us.

Last Wednesday he was rushed out of his home in an ambulance. A few days later he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer that had spread to his bones. Two days later, God called him to come home. He'll certainly be missed. I'm just glad I had the honor of getting to have him in my life growing up.