Stan

“Stan” by Dan Keding Having someone close to you pass away is never an easy experience. It hurts and sometimes hurts until you wonder if the hurt will go away. Interestingly enough, it isn’t always a bad thing to hurt. Pain can teach us things, like not to touch a hot stove. It can also push us to be better and do good for other people. For Dan Keding, a storyteller who grew up in Chicago, one such painful experience revolves around one of his childhood neighbors. His name was Stan, and although he was much older than Dan, he was a good friend. Through sharing his life of experience, he was able to help Dan and after he died, Dan realized his story could help others, even though it hurt.