Memories of Rich, on what would have been his birthday week

[cyan_blue]

This week would have been my friend Rich's birthday, and so I wanted to share some photographs and memories of him.

Rich in Albany:

One day when Rich was feeling bleah, I encouraged him to get out of the city for a few days and come visit me at grad school in Albany NY. "The weather is lovely!" I told him. Of course, the weather was to make a liar out of me - that was the weekend that we had the freak tornado spell, and Rich and I ended up huddled in the dark dusty basement while waiting for the twisters to pass. He was brave enough to visit there again the next year though; here's a photo of him in Albany in 1999, on a prettier day. I like this photo for its realism - it captures both his nature-introspection and his moodiness.



Rich with Glen:

Here's Rich (left) with Glen (right) at Conspiracy 2.01b in Brooklyn, right before the Great Westward UHaul Migration. Too much of a "Twins!" shot to resist :-)



Rich with Tori, Steve and Misha:

And another photo from Conspiracy 2.01b, awaiting the awesome Middle Eastern buffet. He looks like he's having fun. Rich is on the far right, and the other folks in the photo (from left to right) are Tori, Steve, and Misha.



Rich in the Avenue of the Giants:

Rich was an incredibly loyal and helpful friend, and one of those acts of kindness was to help those of us who moved west in 1999 with our move. Part of this involved accompanying me down the coast from Oregon to San Diego, by car. We took a leisurely week of it, stopping at fruit stands, at the ocean, at redwood groves, at funny roadside attractions.

I think Rich's favorite part of the trip was when we drove through The Avenue of the Giants. (Well, ok, his second favorite. His favorite was probably the day that we found the steepest San Francisco hills we could, and drove up and down them like a roller coaster ride).

The Avenue of the Giants is a winding road through the redwoods that parallels Highway 101. Rich had a serious affinity for trees, and we got out of the car so that he could bond with a few of them. He disappeared into the woods for a while, and occasionally I'd catch glimpses of him pressing his palm against ancient tree trunks, or pulling on long vines, or even occasionally giving a tree a hug. I think it was a deeply spiritual experience for him. Here's a picture that I caught of him a ways up some branches, contemplating what was Above.



I'll post all this in his LiveJournal as well. I would love it if others who knew him could share some more photos and memories of him there too, on this week in which we have always celebrated his life with him each year.

Missing you, Rich...
Geri

Comments

[iamlisabee.livejournal.com]

Thanks Geri. I never got to know Rich very well, but he is very much associated with some special times for me. I remain sad that I won't be able to share any other times with him in the future.

[cyan-blue.livejournal.com]

Hi Lisabee,

I didn't realize that you knew him! Where from?

Geri

[iamlisabee.livejournal.com]

I met him through IRC and through akasha - possibly first at Akasha's b-day party in RI. (Did I meet you there?)

[cyan-blue.livejournal.com]

Was it at Points' house in Newport? I think we met, then, 'cause I went up there with Rich :-) I remember a bunch of us walking on the beach at night, were you along for that part?

Geri

[points.livejournal.com]

... You know, I just realized that I can barely remember even a fraction of the people that showed up for that. I -do- recall explaining the two large ceiling hooks I installed specially for that occasion to the landlord as 'potted plant hangars.' I also remember ending up with Rich's socks for something like two years.

[iamlisabee.livejournal.com]

Yup. I went walking along the beach that night, too.

[akkasha.livejournal.com]

Wow... I didn't realize that is when lisabee met him. That really was a terrific birthday celebration. Thank you all. That walk on the beach was really a highlight besides point's incredible cooking!

And Lis, do you recall the photos Marc took? There were some incredible ones of you and Rich in there. I should see if he still has those. You both looked terrific.

I wish Rich were still with us to enjoy many events to come. Looking at the pictures always makes me sad that he will not be able to. Though I hope that he is at peace at last.

[kenhighcountry.livejournal.com]

Geri, I never knew Rich.
But from this post, I went and read his journal, and the things that his friends posted about him after he was gone. I felt a little bit like a voyeur, but then, I am all about stories, and I let this one tell itself to me.
I wish I had known him.

Years ago, someone I knew stood on top of a hill and said Now I will end the world.
The world went on, it was just a little bit smaller. As I imagine your world became.

Thank you for sharing, and for pointing me to this story.

[cyan-blue.livejournal.com]

> But from this post, I went and read his journal, and the things that his friends
> posted about him after he was gone. I felt a little bit like a voyeur, but then,
> I am all about stories, and I let this one tell itself to me. I wish I had known him.

I'm glad you read it. His journal is very much a shrine now, and both folks who knew him and folks who didn't have gone there many times since his suicide and taken comfort in his spirit.

> Years ago, someone I knew stood on top of a hill and said Now I will end the world.
> The world went on, it was just a little bit smaller. As I imagine your world became.

I am sorry to hear of your loss, too.

> Thank you for sharing, and for pointing me to this story.

You are welcome!

Geri

Thank you

[butterfly-smile.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for introducing me to this person.
I know that he is not with us anymore, but when you read
about him in his journal and all the people around him and see
the photos you feel like he is part of who you are.
I did not know him, but really wish I did.
I am sorry that he is gone from you lives, but
it sounds like you all are keeping his spirit alive.
I hope that I am that lucky someday.
I think the last picture says it all about his life...

C

Re: Thank you

[cyan-blue.livejournal.com]

> Thank you so much for introducing me to this person. I know that he is not with us
> anymore, but when you read about him in his journal and all the people around him and
> see the photos you feel like he is part of who you are.

You are welcome, and that is a good way of saying it... "you feel like he is part of who you are." He had intense depth of spirit - and whenever he saw good in the world it touched him profoundly. He was able to articulate a lot of the struggles that people go through.

> it sounds like you all are keeping his spirit alive.

I aim to post a few pictures and/or memories of him here each year.

> I think the last picture says it all about his life...

I am glad you like that one! I am partial to it as well... even though it doesn't show his face, it shows his stance - seeking, wondering, trying to draw deeply from experience, and attuning gently but passionately with nature.

Geri

[eleanor.livejournal.com]

Geri, what my brother said.

Thanks.

[cyan-blue.livejournal.com]

You are welcome, El.

:-)

[geminigirl]

It's funny, Geri...all these photos made me homesick. They made me miss New York, and everyone from there, and all sorts of things. And they made me think about how important the complete insanity of being 21 or 22 was, being in New York, meeting all the incredible people was-how the people who were there shaped so much of what I'm about now. And what's funny is I'm not nearly as wise as they were when they were my age-which is about when I met many of them.

All of you...amazing people. I'm lucky or blessed or something to have people in my life like that.