A year ago today Nathan Dennis Mansfield left this world and was ushered into the presence of Almighty God. He was 27 years old. Today he is ageless...
And his family and friends are individually a year older. Mark and Andre are in different spots in their lives. Meg, Caleb and Cole are older and are in a much different place in their lives..and little Cole knows his Uncle Nate by photos and by visits to his grave.
Colin's finishing his Senior Year in HS and is just a couple months away from going to Beast Barracks (Boot Camp) at West Point. Ginny's life is far different today, though she still lives in the same house in KC, Missouri that she and Nate shared at the time of his death.
If I could say anything to Nate today, it'd be:
"We're all older. You are not. We're looking forward to seeing Jesus face to face. You already do, every day. We get ill with flu. You are forever young and healthy. We still watch Marty McFly and Doc Brown, Tombstone and The Shawshank Redemption. Eric Clapton makes us cry. Izzy's Rainbow song makes us sob. And you are watching the universe unfold and laughing like crazy.
And I still love you, son."
Nate left several legacies and gained many more.
He left us with many memories of discussion, debates and dogged determination on issues of passion. We remember Nate well and we do not "saint" him. He was a hard man, a good man and a man's man. He fought criminals, saved lives, loved tenderly and did not put up with bullshit. He lied and yet loved fairness. He cussed and was respectful. He loved his aunts and uncles, his cousins and he was so proud of his sister's "beating" him at having a child.
He gained the following in Heaven: I lost a sibling to miscarriage when my folks were young. Nate met that sibling of mine. Susan and I lost a child in between Nate and Meg through miscarriage, too. We grieved that loss deeply. Nate met that sibling of his in Heaven. Then, I found out from Nate (just before he died) that he had a child in Heaven. A former girlfriend had aborted their child years before without him knowing it and when he found out, he grieved so deeply because he had no say in the act.He met his child in Heaven. My Mom, Ginny Mansfield, died when Nate was young. His other grand-mom, Wanda McKay, died only 7 weeks after Nate died.
Nate met all of them in Heaven.
His other grand-moms, Marilyn and Vonda, loved him til the end, as did his grandpas, Bill Mansfield and Larry Rampenthal. His cousins and friends...he loved them all and was loved by all of them. He had years of joy when he was a boy with "Funny Old Pop", Mac McKay.
Now we are all looking forward. This video points forward, just as much as it captures Nate's past. He loved movies and he loved adventure. One day soon I'm gonna have a film company and call it Nater Films...he would love that.
Good bye, Nate. You sent a sofa on ahead, in your lifetime. I'm in the process of doing that, still. We all are, aren't we? I cant wait to be shown around the many rooms in our Father's mansion...and to sit on your sofa.
Until then, we're takin' this thing to 88 mph and lettin' the Flux Capacitor send us "Back to the Future".
Who wants to go with us?
Den
Nate Mansfield memorial: slidshow presentation from Colin Mansfield on Vimeo.
Beautifully said, Den. We love you and are praying for you all. Time is fleeting, but Love is forever...
Posted by: Janet | March 11, 2010 at 07:21 AM
Hey brother, my thoughts are with you guys as the hour approaches. I know you and Sue are celebrating this day and time with friends and family in Israel and I also know that thoughts and prayers for Nate are happening all over today. I believe in what you wrote and have the faith that it is true.
My love and hugs to you, Susan, Meg, and Colin.
Always your brother and friend,
Ken
Posted by: Ken | March 11, 2010 at 10:47 AM
Who would have known that on Nate's anniversary you'd be in Israel being as close to God and your Son as humanly possible. We Love you brother and will always be there for you, Sue, Meg, & Colin.
forever your friend,
Henri
Posted by: Henri Raynaud | March 11, 2010 at 08:47 PM