Eric McLaughlin passed away late Wednesday night, surrounded by friends and family. After his wife passed 3 years ago, Mr. McLaughlin began a slow decline in his health. He is survived by his only daughter, Jacqueline.
McLaughlin leaves a legacy of hard work, deep faith, and unfulfilled promises of pony purchases. Everyone who met him could see that he was a man of action: If ever there was a task that needed doing, he was the one to roll up his sleeves. Anyone who spent time around him was aware that he gave credit for everything he had to his unwavering belief in God: he was full of gratitude. And those who were present for his daughter's fourth birthday will no doubt remember the promise he made to "get [her] a pony someday," on which he never actually followed through.
Indeed, for how hard he worked on tasks as small as washing his car or cleaning his shoes, it was fairly clear that he never actually put any effort whatsoever into fulfilling his pledge.
Though his daughter never said anything outright, the dream of having a pony of her very own filled her thoughts constantly throughout her childhood, and never left her even when she moved away for college, got married, and had children of her own. Certain that he would never forget such a solemn commitment, Jacqueline never thought it necessary to bring it up again. Now that he's passed, however, she's making it clear to everyone.
Few are left who claim to remember any such promise, and some speculate that perhaps it was merely a nice thought. Jacqueline, however, insists that in her memory it was at least implied that she would one day have a pony in her possession. She then repeatedly points out that she has no pony.
A service will be held at the Church of Our Lord on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, please donate a ticket for a pony ride to Jacqueline, made in Eric's name. Maybe if she gets a couple hundred of those, she'll stop yammering on about the nag she never got.