Six years ago or so, when I was a young whippersnapper, I worked with a boy named Steve. He was a couple years younger than me and all the girls had a crush on him. He was blond, blue eyed and drove a BMW. He had the brightest smile you had ever seen, and went out of his way to make people laugh. He sang Billy Joel all day. He would stop and give you little shoulder rubs while you were rolling silverware. I think he was about 19.

Steve and I worked together for three years? Maybe four. He was always one of my favorites. There was just something about him, a spirit you couldn’t help but be drawn to. When he was 22 or so he came out, introduced us to his boyfriend and continued to be the happiest person I had ever met. Eventually he left our job and took another one in a near by town. I saw him randomly…I would see his car at WaWa and stop just to go in and say hi. He would stop in to see me at my job.

He gave the best hugs. Ever.

In March of 2009 I received a Facebook message telling me that Steve was dead. According to his obit he had passed at home after a short illness. Steve had issues with his pancreas, I’m not entirely sure what..but I know it had been a problem.

Steve has lingered with me. I have lost friends and family over the years…but I just can’t get Steve out of my head. I drive by the funeral home where his service was daily. I read his little brother’s Facebook status updates and my heart breaks. They are constructing a new restaurant in my town…the same one he was working at when he passed. I can’t figure out why he has affected me like this.

Is it because he was sick? The first of my friends to die young, but not because of a car accident or suicide? Maybe just the fact that someone who was so incredible and full of life is just….gone? It’s been almost a year and a half, and I still think of him daily.

Miss you Steve-a-rino. Big time.