My Buddy Coop died on Tuesday.

He was a longtime friend who would always introduce me as,
“Grossy, from the card game”.

It was a name I wore with love and pride.

In a lifetime of memories, the card game is one I’d like to share.
It started back when we were kids, maybe 13 or 14.
Jeff Cooper, “Coop”, had just made it through an illness, not many had survived.

He once told me he realized the depth of his challenge when, as a kid, he was watching the 1960’s TV show ‘Ben Casey’. Dr. Ben Casey was a brilliant doctor who cured everyone, but when faced with Coop’s particular brand of cancer said,
“No one’s ever survived this.”

Imagine that.

But Coop pulled through.

A Rabbi told me recently,
“We all get two lives, the second one begins when you realize you only get one”.

I said, “Rabbi, my buddy Coop has been teaching me that for a long time, only he calls it, “Playing with house money”.  You know, after winning a bet, you pocket your original stake and only play with your winnings.

And with all the casinos, poker rooms and home poker games I’ve been in with Coop, no one, no one, was ever better at playing with house money, than Jeff Cooper.

But that’s the thing…

The card game was never about the money.

This was Coop’s “second” life, and he was doing what he did best.
Connect with people.
He did it better than anyone.
He was the glue.

In a time when most of us don’t have the same friends we had 2 years ago, Jeff Cooper kept a group of guys together for 45 years.

The Card Game Boyz, a ‘few’ years back.

Yes, the card game and Jeff Cooper are intertwined in my mind, and in my heart. Without him, there was no possibility of all of us staying friends, and adding new friends to “the game”.

The card game has seen us through some wonderful times… weddings, business successes, children and most recently, the wedding of a daughter of the card game.
Most of us were there.
We had our “card game” table right by the dance floor at the wedding.

Only Coop wasn’t there.
That’s when we all knew Jeff s time was short.
Because there was nothing Jeff liked more than a celebration.

But celebrations are easy.
The card game also saw us through business failures, divorces, illness and deaths.

That’s when you learn about true friendship.
And that’s what Jeff Cooper brought to everyone he knew.
True friendship.

There were about 250-300 people at Jeff’s funeral.
He was loved.
And in accordance with his wishes we did it “Quaker” style.

A Quaker style service is a non-denominational service, where people sit in reflective and meditative thought about the deceased, and when so moved, stand up and share a memory.
The idea is that the stories will help everyone begin the healing process.

Everyone had a story to share and it made for a beautiful and emotional day. I loved them all, especially those from Julianna, Jeff’s daughter, and her friends. Hearing about Coop as an amazing Dad had me smiling ear to ear.

One of Julianna’s friends asked me why. Why Jeff? Why now?

I had no answer.

But one thing I know with certainty…
Somewhere in heaven, a great card game just got started.

Today’s practice… Be the glue, reach out and connect with a friend.

To Living Your Second Life,
Michael

Reminder…  Build Your Inner Team Workshop Thursday, 10/20 @ 6:30-8:00pm.

Build Your Inner TEAM
Thoughts, Emotions, Actions & Manifestations

Agenda: The Wingman formula for manifesting any goal is simple.

1. Raise Your Energy.
2. Set Your Intention.
3. Achieve a vibrational match with your desire.

What goal would you like to accomplish? Just follow the simple formula.

1. Raise your energy: We will do different wingman mental exercises to increase our positive energy. When you feel better, you set better ambitions for yourself.

2. Set Your Intentions: We will do specific practices to help you define your desire.

3. Achieve a vibrational match. Stop sabotaging yourself by eliminating the resistance coming from your subconscious. We will work with different brain trainings from Neuroscience and Applied Behavioral Analysis.

“With a Great Team Anything is Possible”. Michael Gross

When: Tuesday, 10/20/2015, 6:30 – 8:00 pm

Where: The Center, Life in Balance, 43 South
Main Street, Medford, NJ 08055

Cost: $20

Register: Phone: 609-975-8379
Email:
Please include your name & phone #.