I found out today that Jon Swift died ...I am still really stunned....saddened..shocked...and puzzled...the last post at his blog was about Loss in March 2009...about Dying too young...last March. First I learned via an email from Bluegal and I could not believe it....I was in denial. 46? 46 ?!! really ? that is just too young to be gone...And then I read Skippy's Tribute it's beautiful and touching and Real. He was an amazing writer, but he also was so generous in his ability to accept and read others works....He was a very special blogger.
Reading what Skippy wrote, I was even more saddened, because I found myself worried did he have good enough healthcare...Did he get the care he needed...He was so damn young..How did this happen...But then I realized that the past two years I have had more than one late night call or message that made me cringe and think Why and Why so young....as a Nurse I guess I will remain haunted...Sifting through regrets and worries...
I was very lucky to have had interactions with this wonderful writer,thinker...and yes in many ways he did remind me of Colbert....Off and on in these past 5 years I would hear from him at odd moments, an encouraging email about a post or participating in his Blogroundups....I am terrible about participating in contests or RoundUps ( I lack social skills sometimes). He would send me emails about it, and I loved that we both were named "Al". I feel bad he linked to a post about a month ago- I think it was a post about Haiti, and another about HCR and he wrote me, and it has been bothering me all day-did I answer him. I was so down, frustated about HCR the past two monthes, that I can not remember if I answered him. And my email was hacked about 2 weeks ago, and now I can not find it. It was a valuable lesson that we need to take more time, to acknowledge each other, and share...I am grateful that Someone like him would take the time to acknowledge my little blog, and other wonderful blogs-big and small... and that he brought so many wonderful writers together. That to him Blogatopia was truly a place to connect.
Al was so appreciative of the Blogger Community, and I am so grateful for that, he encouraged that we view ourselves as a Community, even when there was strife or anger or angst.....that was a gift. He was a force of nature, a Voice that Bloggers should empower themselves and their writing and appreciate each other's purpose. To his mom I would say thank you for raising such a son.....
Leonard Cohen...just seems like the right choice...I don't know why...
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Art by Olive Ray....this is how I picture him...In heaven let us hope that there is an internet cafe....so all of we can find each other....but in the meantime ...we can appreciate each other's writings Here and Now. RIP Jon....Goodbye Al.
5 comments:
So young. So talened. So beloved. Beyond sad. Hugs.
I have rarely been so saddened by the death of someone I didn't know at all. I don't know for sure if we ever even e-mailed. If so it was long ago. He did leave comments on my blogs sometimes and I always thought it was so nice of him to even notice ones as small and unknown as mine. Even though he hadn't posted in almost a year it's really different knowing he's no longer in this world at all. He will be so missed.
How deeply heartening to read the outpouring of memorials for that consummately gifted writer and satirist. It gives us all strength to keep on, keeping on, telling the truth, even when our gifts might be considerably less vibrant. To know that 'out there' good souls, whose opinions matter, might read us, take it in, and allow our insights to join a greater rhythm and at our end take the time to bless our efforts with remembrance and a generous word. Peace MandT at Adgitadiaries
Sweet tribute to a fellow blogger who touched our lives. Too young to leave so soon, he will be missed.
skippy...
thank you....
fran,mandt,zen,kittie...
thank you for your thoughts too...
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