Jarrod Weeks, Friend

When I first heard about Aaron’s diagnosis last week I was devastated. I still am. I have been pushing off writing this letter for a couple of days because the writing of it has seemed too daunting. How do you describe a friendship (or describe a great man) into a couple of paragraphs or a story? I don’t know, but I’ll try. 

My story is one that is humorous and a little trivial but it has always stuck with me as one of my favorite childhood memories of Aaron. Aaron was alway fun loving, sometimes goofy, but he was also alway kind and considerate. Ever since I have known him he has put the needs of others above his own. When we were about 13 or 14 a small group of us (including Aaron) decided it would be fun to go Toilet Papering. We didn’t have a specific person in mind, and we thought it was a fun prank and not malicious in any way, so we decided to “TP” someone in the Bishopric! We threw a few toilet paper rolls around and thought we were being really quiet, but of course we were discovered within a few minutes. When the porch lights came on we all made a break for it and hid close by so we could see the reaction to our prank. To our surprise it wasn’t positive, and we saw that Brother Alexander was upset (as he should have been). We were all ready to stay hidden, but Aaron immediately stood up, walked up to Brother Alexander and apologized that we had hurt his feelings. He explained that we “TP”d his house because we liked him, and not the other way around. Aaron loves to just talk with people and pretty soon they were just talking, having a good time. We all ended up coming out sheepishly, because it was too boring trying to stay hidden for so long.

At the time my 13 yr old mind was thinking, why is he standing up? Why not stay hidden? However, I saw later that he cared more for Brother Alexander and his feelings than he did for himself. He was an example for me then, and he has been for much of my life. What a blessing it was/is for me to have Aaron as a friend.

Aaron, thank you for being there to put an arm around after a bitter little league defeat, for being there to goof around with at scouts, to celebrate with when we won region in church ball, to haul pipe with through the purple raspberries, to introduce me to John Denver’s music, to travel cross country with from Florida to Utah, to have endless political discussions (although that was usually Jeff), to lift my spirits with letters while on my mission, to room with at BYU, to double date with when I was just starting to date Jen and didn’t dare to go on a date alone yet. You are the best friend a guy could hope for.

Aaron and Lorraine, when Jen and I lost our second son Eli after just 14 short days with him, it was a trial that I felt I could hardly bear. It is something that I have never talked about with anyone other than Jen, but I hope doing so will be of some comfort. Those 14 days were the most difficult of my life, but I also cherish them because they were the precious days that Jen and I were able to share with Eli. I will forever be thankful for those 14 days. I came to truly understand the Great Plan of Happiness. The trials that we face here on earth are like a refiners fire that will strengthen us and bring us closer to the Lord. He will be with you during your most trying times and you will recognize His guiding hand in your life. He will send Angels to buoy you up, some that can see, some that you won’t.  As you begin this coming trial I know that you will have the strength and conviction to meet it head on, and cherish the time that you have together as a family.

Love,

Jarrod Weeks and Family