Before Steve,
I did not know that an ego could be tamed with three words: serenity, courage, wisdom
I did not know that fear could be conquered with a smiley-faced racket

I did not know that winning could mean losing 0-6 0-6
Or losing could mean winning 6-0 6-0
I did not know that simply saying a name could be the key to unlocking someone’s soul
I did not know that “thank you” was as important as “I love you”
I did not know that having a vision meant not everyone would like you
I did not know that silence might be the best advice a person could give
Before Steve, I did not know that driving a ten-year-old car and living in the same modest house for forty years could make you rich in what matters
I did not know that Rol-Dri-ing a court – properly – could make one old guy so happy
I did not know that “I could” if I thought I could
I did not know that grief could press you down into your mattress for hours

And only love could make you get back up again
And I did not know that lifting one person up could make everyone around you fly
Including yourself
Before Steve, I did not know that the face of life and the face of death are the same:
A smile
and
a high five