365 Days of Gratitude - Day 213

Today is Mickael's memorial that's being held by his family in Savoie, France. I am deeply honoured to have been asked to write a eulogy for my French son which will be read by his sister Anais.

My thoughts will be with the family all day. As such I wanted to dedicate my blog to Mickael. All the photos are his.

Feeling sad yet grateful,

Louise

"Who knew back in May 2011 when Mickael first arrived in Horseshoe Valley Canada that he would would enter into our home and our hearts forever, becoming our 'French son and brother.'

He was what is known as a 'game changer.' His zest for life was contagious, and his impact was felt wherever he went. Mickael had a natural way of making people feel important and cared for. 

There was a je ne sais quoi quality about him. You couldn't quite put your finger on it, but it was special. Mickael WAS special. He made the world (at least ours) a much better place. 

It didn't matter what we did, a canoe trip, hiking, mountain biking, bonfires, or just relaxing, Mickael's beautiful smile and kind words let us know how thankful and appreciative he was. 

Mickael was the hardest working young man I have ever known. He saw roadblocks as challenges and his ability to strategize solutions was admirable. Everyone who met him agreed - 'that young man is going places!'

And go places he did! Every 6 months he had the exhausting and tedious job of renewing his work visa so that he could stay in Canada. Every job he took was a means to prepare him for his ultimate goal - to become a helicopter pilot. 

It was not an easy path to organize, nor was it easy to finance. But, in true Mickael form he met those challenges head on with determination and a bit of humour. He succeeded every step of the way.

I will never forget listening to the joy in his voice when he passed his final test and became a pilot. We were so proud of him and excited for his future.

My lasting memory is of our hike up Lady MacDonald mountain in late January. I had a few moments on that difficult hike where I thought I couldn't go on. Mickael was so patient and encouraging. He knew I could do it and supported me every treacherous step. He believed in me. I will cherish those memories for my lifetime.

I once read in a book from an American author that said, when a person dies their soul has graduated. They learned all their lessons, passed all their tests and have graduated to the Other Side of life. It is those of us still with lessons to learn and tests to pass that are left behind, mourning their departure. Mickael has graduated and it is us left behind that must learn how to live a life without him. Yes his spirit will always be nearby, but we will miss his touch, his smile, his laughter, and his love.

To Mickael's family. Thank you for sharing him with us. It was easy to tell he was raised by wonderful parents and with loving siblings. He was an incredible young man and we were honoured to have him in our lives.

Anais, you are a part of Mickael and will always be connected to us, his Canadian family. I see him in you and it brings love to my heart.

Mickael, my French son. I miss your laughter, your smile, your kind words, and your love. In everything I do I continue to feel your energy, your inspiration, and your zest for life. 

Bisous bisous my French son.

Louise, Paul, Eric, Richard and Sydney Smith, your Canadian family."