R.I.P. Steve aka Pet

You don't have to read this post but I needed to write it to help me cope.
  I sit here numb and disbelieving of news from yesterday.  Thoughts are flooding my mind of 30+ years of events and fun times of a friendship that ended unexpectedly Wednesday morning.  The shock of the news is leaving me unfocused and I find myself remembering yet another memory but can't grasp the idea that he is gone. I am having a hard time functioning.  This can't be happening. 
  First, to understand a little bit of Italian traditions.  Long time good friends are more like family.  When the kids come along, these friends, out of respect, are called Auntie and Uncle even though it isn't by blood.  They consider the friends' kids, cousins and refer and introduce them as that.
  Yesterday my boys lost their Uncle, who they were very close to and we lost a life long friend.  A friend who was in our wedding party and my hubby was his best man at his wedding.  A friend who has been through our good and bad times as we were there through his.  A friend who I have so many memories that my thoughts these past 24 hours are of all of him, of the fun times.  I was in the same Kindergarten class with him.  While in high school, I introduced my then boyfriend, who became my hubby, to this friend and they became bffs.
  How can this be?  He was only 54 years old.  Just a few years ago he was so sick, in need of a liver transplant that we thought he would not make it.  But God came through, finding a match for him.  I remember that phone call..it was Thanksgiving and he called to tell us he got "the call" and was being prepped to go into surgery.  He fought because he had to walk his daughters down the aisle when they married.  The surgery was a success.  We all thought that day would come.  But now it won't.  He kissed his daughter before she left for school, went back to lay down and died. 
  Live each second to it's fullest because it can end in the next second.

Rest In Peace Friend