When we were young A few days before Monty passed I said to him that I was a child the first time we meet. My mom would take me to the mines to go see my great gran Emily and I would beg and cry to go by Aunty Bee to see Monty. I guess I gravitated to him cause we were of same age range and we had so much in common. We competed on so many levels and in so many ways. I was happy that I had a comparison - like Andrew and Earl - Monty meant the same to me. I only knew Monty as a friend growing up moving back and forth, so I was always happy to be in his company. As time went by we aged and life’s path took us on different journeys but technology enabled us to stay in touch. We would have long debates and share perspective information about our favorite soccer teams and we would talk about everything that our lives revolve around. Then after one time came we realized we both were goin to have kids - both boys - how ironic. I’m older than him by weeks now and his son is older than my son by just about the same amount of time. I lost my best friend and I couldn’t even be by his side to wish him farewell. Monty was very clever and not too vocal about his private life but he really loved his family and even tho everything happened so fast he tried to not have the people he cared about most hurt in the way he was. That says a lot about his character and I will hold him deeply in my heart because he was more than an uncle to me or a friend - we had a bond that only death can break apart. I’m just sorry we didn’t take pictures together but the things we did growing up will never be forgotten. Rest In Peace.