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Italian dinner in Rockport...

June 7, 2013

Me and Matt discussing about food... he loved italian food!!!!  

On his birthday

May 28, 2013

I know this is a little late, given that his birthday was last week, but I thought i'd share. Matt and I were in the same year at Tufts but were actually 14 months apart (which was super useful when he was 21 and I was 19!) Each year we'd talk on his birthday and decide not to talk for the next two months because the age difference was just too much. There were lots of "oh you wouldn't understand, you're so immature!" and "Do you want some ensure, grandpa?" during his birthday call every year, and we'd vow not to speak until my birthday in July. When inevitably we did speak (we were always great phone talkers) we'd usually end the call yelling at each other, "this is why we're not supposed to be talking! The gulf is too large!" Then, when my birthday rolled around, he'd call me and say, "whew! finally! That was terrible. Glad we're all caught up." It was our little birthday joke and I thought about it all day on the 20th. So, in memory of Matt I had my friends toast in his honor of his birthday. I miss him dearly.

On The Death of The Beloved, by John O'Donohue

May 13, 2013

Poem read by Matt's mom at his burial service in Rockport, MA on 
May 4th, 2013

On The Death of The Beloved, by John O'Donohue 

 
Though we need to weep your loss
You dwell in that safe place in our hearts,
Where no storm or night or pain can reach you.

Your love was like the dawn
Brightening over our lives,
Awakening beneath the dark
A further adventure of color.

The sound of your voice
Found for us
A new music
That brightened everything.

Whatever you enfolded in your gaze
Quickened in the joy of its being.
You placed smiles like flowers
On the altar of the heart
Your mind always sparkled
With wonder at things.

Though your days here were brief
Your spirit was alive, awake, complete.

We look toward each other no longer
From the old distance of our names;
Now you dwell inside the rhythm of breath,
As close to us as we are to ourselves.

Though we cannot see you with outward eyes,
We know our soul's gaze is upon your face,
Smiling back at us from within everything
To which we bring our best refinement.

Let us not look for you only in memory,
Where we would grow lonely without you.
You would want us to find you in presence,
Beside us when beauty brightens
When kindness glows
And music echoes eternal tones.

When orchids brighten the earth,
Darkest winter has turned to spring;
May this dark grief flower with hope
In every heart that loves you.

May you continue to inspire us:
To enter each day with a generous heart.
To serve the call of courage and love
Until we see your beautiful face again
In that land where there is no more separation,
Where all tears will be wiped from our mind,
And where we will never lose you again. 

A Poem for Matthew by David Lockhart

May 13, 2013

Poem read at Matt's burial service by Dave Lockhart

"Beloved son, second child
Born of love and closely held
To horizons reach in nursing comfort
Subtle dreams, some unspoken

Beloved One, known yet not
Like all of us, wanderers still
Across the arc of time we travel
Dreams and hopes to fulfill

No safety found in selfless deeds
Children carried in desperate need
Random scatter of hellish seeds
Searching for breath and where it leads.

Still we stand and wonder now
About the meaning of it all
Senseless taking of life so young
Speechless,  held in frightened call

Cancer, thief of storied telling
At your feet we beg
Churlish demon hidden and snide
No ear to us to hear our cry

Beloved One, in Rockport town
Thoreau a bard of hearing sound
The different drummer among the all
New beat needed for comfort round

Through shadows dark and lifeless
You Matthew
Found laughter in the sound
Of fear and dread

You heard the sea in this quaint town
Found warmth beyond the heat
For in your heart, young man you fond
the Life we desperate seek. 

Memorable Matt expressions...

April 28, 2013

"Quiet Time"... Matt's choice, at the age of 3,  when given an opportunity for either "talk time" or "quiet time" when driving with me into Boston enroute to Julie's Family Learning Program's Montessori School  where I worked...

"Make It A Good One" ...an often stated expression shared between Matt and I prior to setting out for the day...begun at an early age....and continued ....


to be continued.......
 

Courage

April 27, 2013

So many of my childhood memories involve the Shea family.  One of my favorites is a road trip back somewhere around 1999.  Matt, Meg, my brother Kevin and I took a trip to New Jersey to see a Dave Matthews concert and stopped in Atlantic City for a couple nights.  One of the days we spent walking along the boardwalk, talking, laughing, eating ice cream, and admiring the fun amusement park type rides.  We came across one ride that looked particularly intimidating.  It was a chair enclosed in a cage and attached to bungee chords and essentially sling-shot you in the air.  After nervously walking by it a couple times, Matt was the first one to muster up enough courage to express his desire to try it out.  We all deliberated over it for a while and went through our own process of convincing ourselves it wouldn't be that bad.  Matt came to the decision that he was going to go no matter what.  So, like good friends, the rest of us decided that if Matt goes, we all have to go.  Meg and Matt took their turn and Kev and I took our turn.  We all talked about how amazing, scary and exhilarating the experience was and how Matt was the strongest and bravest amongst us all.  It was probably one of the highlights of the trip for me, thanks to Matt's courage and willingness to try something different and new.  I'm so glad we spent those few days together, just the four of us, making fun memories with lifelong friends.  (oh and I believe there are videos of our adventure floating around somewhere...)

Someone to look up to

April 25, 2013

One of my first memories of Matt is from elementary school.  I was in fourth grade and Matt was in kindergarten or first grade.  For some reason we had a class project to measure the height of the younger students and I was in a group with Matt.  I can't remember the point of the project, but I do remember giggling in the hallway with Matt because we were the same height (or he may have been slightly taller).  It was the first of many laughs shared over the last twenty plus years and a fitting story for someone we all looked up to and continue to be inspired by.

A Fit - Tribute

April 24, 2013

My sympathies to the entire family. Matt was such a special person, he impacted the lives of everyone he met. As a Tufts student and leader I was always so impressed with his spirit and enthusiasm for life. He never complained but was there to help others. In fact, Matt had this "radar" when others were in need as he would just jump in to help.

What a wonderful, loving human being! My prayers go out to the family and Tufts also mourns your loss.

Branwen

(as posted on the Delaney & Sons website)  

Willy Wonka

April 23, 2013

As Matt's second grade teacher (and according to his mom- his favorite teacher), I can certainly say "I knew Matt way back when"!  To describe Matt as a second grader is quite easy; tall....bright...funny...energetic....extremely intelligent...witty.....kind...silly.... lovable!  One of my favorite memories of Matt was when we were doing our annual 2nd grade production.  The play..."Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory".... the star "Matt Shea"!  He was cast as the role of Willy Wonka!  He was thrilled!  He immediately began memorizing the script!  A few weeks into the production during a practice on the stage, I noticed that the kids seemed to be losing their place and messing up their lines.  It seemed pecular to me as I knew Matt knew all of his lines (actually he knew all of his lines and everyone else's lines as well!!).  I stopped the production and said to Matt,  "Hey what's up Matt, you are not following your lines at all?" He looked at my and replied,  "Yeah I know, I am enhancing the script!" 
I am not sure the Roald Dahl would appreciate that Matt, at 7, had decided to take the liberty to "enhance the script!" 
Needless to say, on the night of the performance, Matt stole the show!  He had the audience roaring! 
Matt also had a solo that night.... the song... "Pure Imagination"...Matt's impression of his performance as he watched on video..."You know Ms. Armstrong, I don't really sound as good as the guy in the movie"!  Matt always made me laugh! 
As I reflected these past few days on the 180 days that Matt was in my class as well as the amazing life Matt lived after second grade, the words to
"Pure Imagination" keep coming ot my head:
Come with me
And you'll be
In a world of
Pure imagination
Take a look
And you'll see
Into your imagination

We'll begin
With a spin
Traveling in
The world of my creation
What we'll see
Will defy
Explanation

If you want to view paradise
Simply look around and view it
Anything you want to, do it
Wanta change the world?
There's nothing
To it

There is no
Life I know
To compare with
Pure imagination
Living there
You'll be free
If you truly wish to be....

I have found great comfort and solice picturing Matt in 'paradise'! 
Matt- YOU were one of a kind..... YOU were a gift to all.... YOU will be missed by many... YOU will always be remembered!

Rest in peace sweet Matt!

With love and admiration,
Your second grade teacher, Holli Armstrong

Tricks of the Trade

April 22, 2013

When an unsuspecting resident or fellow needed to check Matt’s breathing, he would offer up his right side and watch as they placed their stethoscope down on his chest. He would then look on as their brows would furrow with consternation. After a few more breaths Matt would remind them that he had had his right lung removed and recommend they listen ‘leftie’ for a better soundscape.


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