Rich Neirynck

Rich and I talked almost every day after his brain surgery and throughout his battle with cancer. I always pushed him to stay positive. Rich knew I was always out on my fat tire bike riding trails in the woods almost every time we talked. It got to be that was the only time I called him was from the trails or from my hammock while in the woods. I always felt bad that he knew I was out enjoying retirement, but he always said, "Don't worry, I'll be back up in no time." He was always positive.

The day Rich passed, I went out in the woods on bike trails and spotted a new place to hang my hammock and think of Rich. I no sooner stretched out my hammock, and it started to rain. Wanting to sit and remember Rich, I just accepted the rain and sat in my hammock. The spot I am at in the woods is very close to a state police gun range for training.

As I just sat down, I noticed a clearing in the sky as the clouds separated. I grabbed my phone and started to record. Just at that point a Ray of sunshine shot through the clouds and at the very same time guns were going off at the range. It was like a 21-gun solute to Rich and I am sure it was Rich telling me "I'm OK now"

RIP my friend