Dear Rishi,
I’ve always been able to count on you to be there for every important moment of my life, you’ve never let me down and have always loved extending your visits with us. So it’s certainly uncharacteristic that you are gone so heartbreakingly prematurely, leaving us all here to miss you so much.
Rishi, our families did so much together. Trips, holidays, graduations, weddings...but my favorite moments were all of those in between. Sitting at the kitchen table in Scottsdale, eating late night microwave nachos and talking about life until then wee hours. Well...generally it was you talking about life and me being largely unable to keep up with your boundless knowledge and controversial ideas- you’ve always been the quintessential old soul.
You were never afraid to be honest. You wouldn’t said what anyone wanted to hear, only the truth. You walked your own path with full integrity, even when that was really really hard. You were an open book and humble about your challenges, while also completely stubborn. You lived truly authentically and with your eyes always so wide open- both to the gifts and ills of this world. Since you left I’ve been thinking that it couldn’t have always been easy for you to live this way, but it was surely courageous.
To say that I’ll miss you feels empty. I just turned 34 and it is truly cruel that you won’t have the same privilege. I am heartbroken that my children won’t be able to learn how to live your way, from you. The only thing to do seems to be to try to put one foot in front of the other and live life in the light of honesty- like you did. I love you, my brother.
Love,
Meera