Henry Tanners, my dad’s best friend of 60 years, our closest family friend, has died after a year of fighting for his life.

During that year I only got to talk with him once by phone and he gave me what I needed…he always did:

Hi, Henry. It’s Ally
Hi, Ally.
Henry, I love you to the stars and the moon and back again.
I know. Ally, I don’t have to tell you that I love you because you already know. You feel it inside.
I know.

…and I do, I really do.

Henry gave something to the world – something so important…something we truly need more of…

Through his gestures, his tone, his choice of words, the smile in his eyes, let’s just call it, “his Henry-Deliciousness” – - he looked at you and it was like, BAM!, “I see you. I hear you. I’m curious about you. I GET you.”

No matter what, he made you feel like you mattered, and that in that moment — together –you were the most important person — not just to him, but to the World. I don’t know how he did it, but he reminded us that we are all Delicious.

In my heart, I knew that day that I may not have a chance to speak with Henry again. And, as hard as it was, and now is, I am truly ok. Because he knew me since the day I was born and he always loved me and I feel it inside…

Henry Tanners Saw Me and I love him and always will.