Dedicated to Adrian Tartler, my second dad. As I write this, I sit here at our pool – the place we call our summer home, where the water is always cool, and no one ever feels alone. It’s a place we come to be social, to layout and tan or swim. It’s a place we come with our families and spend time with our summer friends. In many ways this place has changed as the years have passed. We nor the pool look the same… our youth could never last. But while this place is sacred, it’s not the pool itself that keeps us coming back – it’s the people and families and love we share, that help us realize life’s not too bad. But in the past year this pool has felt different because one of our own has passed away. And as hard as we may try to move on, we can’t shake the feeling that something is not the same. Because Adrian was the heart of this pool – he was the foundation of our community. He pulled us together when life tore us apart. He loved and united us beautifully. A ray of sunshine, a light in the dark. A free-spirited soul and kind-hearted man. A person who effortlessly left their mark by living a life that was simple yet grand. Everyone who new Adrian was touched by his heart and soul in one way or another. He was a father, husband, friend, and mentor, but most of all a ferocious lover – a lover of life in all its ups and downs, a lover and believer in the flow. He knew there was no easy way out, but believed there was always a happier road. And he chose that road every single time throughout the course of his too-short life. It was down the happier road that he would drive, never failing to go slow and enjoy the ride. Because Adrian saw the beauty in everything and everyone – he could take life’s most bitter moments and make them sweet. He would play Tom Petty (or Red-Hot Chili Peppers) and quietly hum, syncing the rhythm of the song with his own heartbeat. He was the happiest person I have ever known, a smile always shined on his face. He was a source of authentic optimism and his presence felt like home – it seemed he always knew exactly what to say. For me, Adrian was there in one of my darkest times, when I was completely broken on the inside. I was fearful, insecure, and masking it all, but from Adrian I could never hide. He saw my hurt and took me in. Going beyond yoga he taught me how to find peace in the flow. He taught me how to embrace my emotions, and let my spirit glow. We would sit in his living room turned yoga studio for hours and hours on end, talking philosophy, art, people, and life… and in him I found a much-needed friend. But my life is just one of many, that Adrian greatly influenced and changed for the better through his company – we now owe him a debt that cannot be repaid. But Adrian would never have wanted anything in return. For his wise-words and nurture he never expected compensation. He gave his all to everyone in his life, as if it was his sole obligation. Adrian could take your most difficult problems and make them seem like mere bumps in the road. His welcoming smile and keen intuition made those around him want to take life slow. For him, the grass was not greener on the other side because he could find beauty in every place. Even in death, his spirit is alive… he was not religious but held the utmost faith. A California boy and Kansas man, with sun kissed skin and a body tall and strong. He was naturally athletic and loved all sports – but the water was where he truly belonged. He passed his deep love for swimming down to his three amazing kids. He taught them that sports (and life) were not about winning, but about having fun and making friends. And it is through his children that we see him the most – through Francesca, Kai, and Canyon. We see him in their eyes, skin, faces, and souls, these kids were his everything – his most sacred creations. And while his spirit will undeniably live on in them, it will live on in all of us too – the way he lived life is forever in our hearts… and now it is our obligation, to carry his legacy through.