I remember the first time I got down on the floor and played with Charlie. He was using a pretend kitchen to feed his little plastic animals. I was looking for a way to connect, so I asked the standard questions... "Which is your favorite animal, Charlie? Which is your favorite fruit, Charlie? Hey, Charlie, what is your favorite treat in the whole world?" Charlie wouldn't answer. He just looked up at me with his cute smile and turned back to his toys and his ridiculous story about a dragon eating a monster's head, while riding on the back of a pig (or something to that effect). We played longer and seeing his affinity for monsters, I asked, "So then, Charlie, which is your favorite monster?" With all the patience he could muster for this simple-minded adult, Charlie looked up and explained, "Matt... they're all my favorite!" In the months and years that followed, I came to understand this explanation. It was indicative of the profound generosity deep within Charlie's heart. I even sort of think it was his strategy for protecting his store of kindness from anything negative that might threaten its purity. Charlie displayed a capacity to see the best in every living creature. He insisted that all creatures -- animals and people, alike -- were precious and lovely. He would convey this openly to others and would adamantly defend anyone being treated negatively. This was especially true for things that were most flawed like broken toys, one-armed zombies, decrepit animals, and grumpy people. Simply put, Charlie Waller was just a very, very good person. And I am trying to follow the example he set for me. I want to be the kind of person Charlie wanted me to be.