Melissa’s message
I was in Winnipeg (and Gimli) last week, to celebrate the life of one of the greatest men I’ve ever known. My uncle, Allan Kristofferson. He was more than an uncle to me. He was a part of my life from my very first memories, someone who taught me so many things. Things about science, philosophy, astronomy, and in a smaller but no less important capacity, how to be a good person. He never gossiped or spoke badly of anyone, he always tried to understand their point of view and see things from their perspective. He saw every person as an equal, all deserving of the same amount of respect. He cared about not just his fellow human, but all animals (including ants), the environment, and how we are leaving the earth for future generations. More specifically, he cared about me. I will never forget all the time I got to spend with him, talking about every subject imaginable. He would always remember things I told him, struggles I was having or problems I was dealing with, and ask about them weeks or even sometimes months later. He was an intent listener and always had advice for me. Even though it’s been over a year, I still find myself not quite able to believe he’s gone. He impacted me in a way that shaped who I am today, and I will always be grateful to have had him for as long as I did. 💕💕