Gone So Soon

God called upon another angel just last week. My sweet and kindhearted cousin, only 24 years old, was taken from the Earth and sent to Heaven.

As a baby, Jose Arguello, also known as Boti (Bo-tee) was a little chunkster with curly hair. When I look back at him growing up I picture the cute little kid with glasses. He had a half-smirk that was almost like he didn’t want to smile with his entire mouth, just one end of it.

My cousins and I have all had the blessing of growing up together, gathering at our grandparents (great-grandparents for me) house on Sunday’s. We were not only family, but the closest of friends. Although we differed in age, we all still had a close bond as children. Playing outside in front of the house or in the driveway. Impatiently awaiting the bells of the paletero man that would come from 26^th street and turn the corner as he knew to expect 10+ kids waiting for him. For Christmas it was all of us, too many to count on one hand, keeping each other awake as our parents forced us to wait until midnight to open the what seemed like over 100 gifts. 

So many wonderful memories that we all have to cherish with our cousin, brother, son, and friend. As he grew into a young adult he did face some challenges that many of us face. Tough life decisions and knowing what path to take was something Boti dealt with and expressed to those who took the time to hear him out.  

My last memory of my beloved cousin Boti was during my visit to Chicago in May. As we all know, life has a way of distancing people no matter how close you once were in the past. For Boti and I, that's what happened. So during my visit to Chicago it was a shock to me when he came up to me as I was in the kitchen with all of the girl cousins and asked me to come play basketball with him. I'm a huge Bulls fan so I'm sure he assumed I'd be up for it. Being that it was a shock to me I followed him to the garage. We played a little basketball via the net version for kids. After he noticed I clearly was not a pro we just stood to the side and talked for a little. He asked me how Texas was and listened to me as I went on about how much I missed everyone back home. I then asked him how he was doing and that's when I realized, he just needed someone to talk to. He went on about how he felt out of place, he didn't know what was next for him and he needed to get away. He asked about going to Texas and I told him that I would love to have him over, even if he wanted an extended stay. We talked some more and that's what we left off on, that he'd tell me when he could go to Texas and stay with us so he can get away. 

When I left that night I gave him a hug and said I'd wait for his call, text, or Facebook message. Looking back on it now how I wish I would have told him I love you Boti and squeezed him tighter to let him know how much I cared for him. The night of the accident I laid in bed and just thought about all of my memories with him. I stayed up for 6 hours not caring that I had to be at work the next morning. I thought about all his Facebook posts and how I'd sometimes wonder what was going on based on what he'd write and then I realized, it was really a yearn for someone to genuinely listen to him. He must have felt so misunderstood. 

Jose, Boti, lived a short life, but in that short time he brought so many wonderful memories to those who love him. Looking at it now I feel that God purposely put him in the lives of his loved ones to give us those memories, to show us what a truly genuine and loving person looks like, and that he was. 

Boti, I just want you to know how much I love and miss you. I hope you know that you are and always will be welcome in my home if ever you want to visit me, I may not be able to see you, but I hope to know you're there.