In memory of Mark Harland

(b. Jan 25, 1954, Mount Pleasant, MI; d. Oct 3, 2004, Lake Worth, FL)

I miss you, dear friend. You made the world a better place, and gave me an endless supply of love and support and countless good times. May you rest in peace, assured that your memory will remain a light for so many, known and unknown, whose lives you enriched.

Friend Of Mine

The morning paper came too late
I worked alone the whole day long
So I did not learn about your fate
Until I heard it heading home
And I didn't care just who could see
All the tears that I cried
I felt that I had lost a part of me
The day they told me you had died

(Chorus:)
And I remember all the hard times we've been through
I know there were times I made it thanks to you
Now I'm nobody special
And you were slightly out of your time
But if anyone asks me today
I'll say you were a friend of mine
Friend of mine
You were a friend of mine

If there were justice in this crazy world
Your words would sound all through this land
Some folks listened, most folks never heard
Or never tried to understand
You took me with you to a brighter day
You touched my very soul I know
And though this train has got to roll away
Sometimes I wish it would pass slow

(Repeat Chorus; fade with:)
Friend of mine
He was a friend of mine
Friend of mine
There goes a friend of mine . . .

(© dmf)

Mark, on a visit to my apartment on Colonial Court, DeLand, Florida. This was probably during his senior year at DeLand High School.