In the tenth chapter of his book Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, the third-century AD Greek historian Diogenes Laërtius relates the story of the legendary sage Epimenides of Knossos, who was said to have been a shepherd on the island of Crete. [16] [17] One day, Epimenides followed after a sheep that had wandered off and, after becoming tired, went into a cave under Mount Ida and fell asleep. When he awoke, he continued searching for the sheep, but could not find it, so he returned to his father's farm, only to discover that it was under new ownership. He went home, only to discover that the people there did not know him. Finally, he encountered his younger brother, who had become an old man, and learned that he had been asleep in the cave for fifty-seven years. [16] [17] According to the different sources that Diogenes relates, Epimenides lived to be 154, 157, or 299 years old. [18] Multiple sources have identified the story of Epimenides as the earliest known variant of the "Rip Van Winkle" fairy tale. [16] [17] [19] [11] [20] Forever in My Heart , Forever in My Heart Poems, n.d. www.foreverinmyheartpoems.com/my-angel-up-in-heaven . Terry Guillemet’s words evoke a kind of effortless journey in returning to God. With just a few words, you can imagine the full, billowy sails of a ship sailing across a limitless blue ocean. Van Winkle Campbell, Sally (1999). But Always Fine Bourbon: Pappy Van Winkle and the Story of Old Fitzerald. Louisville, KY: Limestone Lane Press. ISBN 9780967420806.

The 1990 video game Super Mario World features an enemy known as "Rip Van Fish" which constantly sleeps unless disturbed.

The Sydney Morning Herald

May your memories with him/her give you the strength to carry on with your life. Hope his/her soul rests in peace. These images are usually an appropriate picture – in this case something less celebratory than a usual birthday picture – with the accompanying quote. Nothing is more painful than losing a loved one. I’m sending you the strength to get through this tragedy.

When we lose a friend its heartbreaking. But we should never forget them. So use these words and sentiments to say happy birthday to friends no longer with us. The dead has always been within us, it’s just the graveyard where we lay to rest.”– Anthony Liccionea b c Hansen, William (2017). The Book of Greek & Roman Folktales, Legends & Myths. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. pp.132–133. ISBN 9780691170152. Happy birthday to my dear brother in Heaven. Always in my heart and forever by my side. I miss you every day. May you rest in eternal paradise. I still can’t believe that he/she has left us so soon! May his/her soul wander in the beautiful gardens of heaven. Happy birthday to the best mom in the universe, the one that always puts others before herself, the one who is always so patient and caring. And the one that taught me how to live life. I will always remember you mom, happy birthday.