A few years ago I met a man that had faced more adversity in his life than any man I had met before or since then. This man suffered the better part of his life with circulatory/heart problems, had diabetes, lost one of his legs, and had to suffer through the loss of two children. Most people wouldn’t be able to handle even one quarter of the things that this man endured.
By all rights this man had every reason in the world to not get out of bed in the morning, but he chose to do the opposite. He got up and went to work at his antique store every chance he got and continued to spend as much time with his family as possible. Every time you saw him he always had a smile on his face and would always have something funny to say.
It’s not often in life that someone gets to meet someone truly inspirational. Not only did he understand that even though life is tough it’s also very special. He was above moral reproach; he was always honest and true to his heart and was never afraid to tell you his true feelings. He was truly inspirational to me as well as many others.
I not only had the honor to call this man my friend, but also my family (a fact I will always be proud of). I had a great deal of respect and admiration for him, mainly because of his sheer desire to live his life no matter the obstacle in front of him. I will never forget how he lived his life as I try to live my life a little more like him.
R.I.P. Ernest Ray Hudspeth
