Author Topic: A Celebration of Rich: Tributes  (Read 242404 times)

Offline Lynne

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Re: A Celebration of Rich: Tributes
« Reply #30 on: August 25, 2010, 03:52:13 pm »
And you have been there waiting since 2 AM.

I think there may still be some of that Makers mark about under the cabinet.....

That may have been right - I know I was on a red-eye flight from Seattle and hadn't slept in 36+.  You may very well have Maker's left, but that isn't what did Rich and me in.  He was after making the Ketel One martinis - and he did the bartending initially.  When he turned it over to me, I figured pouring the Ketel over ice was close enough.

 ::)

(Yes, Paul - I know you're cringing.)   :-*
"Laß sein. Laß sein."

Offline Shakesthecoffecan

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Re: A Celebration of Rich: Tributes
« Reply #31 on: August 25, 2010, 03:53:58 pm »
 :'(

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48o5rCFFxh8&feature=related[/youtube]
"It was only you in my life, and it will always be only you, Jack, I swear."

Offline CellarDweller

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Re: A Celebration of Rich: Tributes
« Reply #32 on: August 25, 2010, 04:01:22 pm »
Oh yeah, I remember that.....

He was so happy to have been able to pull a prank on me and Lynne like that.

 :laugh:

I would occasionally email him from work, and just type:

"BOO!"

and he'd reply back with:


Hey!  stop that!  I'm tryin' to work here!

 :laugh:


Tell him when l come up to him and ask to play the record, l'm gonna say: ''Voulez-vous jouer ce disque?''
'Voulez-vous, will you kiss my dick?'
Will you play my record? One-track mind!

Offline Shakesthecoffecan

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Re: A Celebration of Rich: Tributes
« Reply #33 on: August 25, 2010, 04:25:52 pm »
And he was forever on the phone. Everytime I saw him he would get 20-30 calls a day and I ain't joking.
"It was only you in my life, and it will always be only you, Jack, I swear."

Offline Lynne

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Re: A Celebration of Rich: Tributes
« Reply #34 on: August 25, 2010, 04:30:12 pm »
He loved the 'Blog Parties' Chuck threw regularly awhile back...here's a PM to me from Rich:

«  Sent to: Lynne  on: January 29, 2009, 11:55:15 am »

Party at Chucks Blog!
Come over!


He wanted to pay you back, Chuckie!

 :-*
"Laß sein. Laß sein."

Offline CellarDweller

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Re: A Celebration of Rich: Tributes
« Reply #35 on: August 25, 2010, 06:14:31 pm »
;D

I remember that!


Tell him when l come up to him and ask to play the record, l'm gonna say: ''Voulez-vous jouer ce disque?''
'Voulez-vous, will you kiss my dick?'
Will you play my record? One-track mind!

Offline Shasta542

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Re: A Celebration of Rich: Tributes
« Reply #36 on: August 25, 2010, 10:06:11 pm »
Thinking of Rich tonite. Took a walk and saw a big ol' full moon in the east.  :)
"Gettin' tired of your dumbass missin'!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Offline Meryl

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Re: A Celebration of Rich: Tributes
« Reply #37 on: August 25, 2010, 11:56:25 pm »




Sending this one upstairs to Rich  :-*
Ich bin ein Brokie...

Offline Ellemeno

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Re: A Celebration of Rich: Tributes
« Reply #38 on: August 26, 2010, 11:11:52 am »
When I think of when Rich first got to BetterMost, and he was considering making some very big changes in his life, I remember that his main concern, always, was how it would affect his beloved daughter.  Not that he wasn't concerned about how changes might affect himself, but difficulties for himself didn't daunt him.  But he always wanted the best for her.

The next thing I think about is how Rich was a political and religious minority here.  He was a conservative Christian Republican, and he didn't hide it, but he never made it an issue.  During the election debates that raged here at times, he occasionally participated, but always stayed respectful, and I think decided fairly quickly that he didn't want his BetterMost life ruined by politics, and decided to not engage on those issues anymore.  He is one of the few people here whose behavior I don't recall ever warranting an apology during those troubled times.

Next I think of the warmth, honesty, and affection he shared freely with the people here.  He was open about his self-doubts, quick to appreciate support, and quick to give support.  He was not afraid of showing love and exuberance.  He was not afraid to show insecurity, and he was also not afraid to show confidence in himself.  He was a very integrated person, I always thought.

Next I think of his humor.  He loved teasing and being teased.  He loved his friends' quirks and loved to laugh at them lovingly.  Imagine a person so full of love, that you actually feel better about yourself after they make fun of you.  Now that's a special person.

I know quite a few people here were much, much closer to Rich than I was, but he and I had small moments that help me feel connected to him.  One happened the morning of the day he died.  I had found a really good quote about parenting on a friend's facebook page, and Rich saw it on my page, and linked to it too.  It's the last thing he ever posted on facebook, and I take it as our special connection.  Here's the quote:




How to really love a child


Be there.

Say yes as often as possible.

Let them bang on pots and pans.

If they’re crabby, put them in water.

If they’re unlovable, love yourself.

Realize how important it is to be a child.

Go to a movie theater in your pajamas.

Read books out loud with joy.

Invent pleasures together.

Remember how really small they are.

Giggle a lot.

Surprise them.

Say no when necessary.

Teach feelings.

Heal your own inner child.

Learn about parenting.

Hug trees together.

Make loving safe.

Bake a cake and eat it with no hands.

Go find elephants and kiss them.

Plan to build a rocket ship.

Imagine yourself magic.

Make lots of forts with blankets.

Let your angel fly.

Reveal your own dreams.

Search out the positive.

Keep the gleam in your eye.

Encourage silly.

Plant licorice in your garden.

Open up.

Stop yelling.

Express your love.

A lot.

Speak kindly.

Paint their tennis shoes.

Handle with caring.

CHILDREN ARE MIRACULOUS


(source: SARK http://www.planetsark.com/eshop_products_posters_feat_02.htm)


Offline jstephens9

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Re: A Celebration of Rich: Tributes
« Reply #39 on: August 26, 2010, 01:26:47 pm »
One of the things I meant to say at the service was about how I would get emails as well as PMs from Rich that would just seem to come out of the blue. That happened a lot when I was feeling down about something. Many times they would simply say something like "How are you doing?" or "Is everything OK?" and similiar things like that. Other times he would have a lot to say. Anyway, these would always make me feel better about whatever I was feeling down about. One thing I will never ever forgive myself for is that I never took him up on his invitations to come visit. I remember once I was telling him on the phone how much I liked amusement parks and he said, "Well come on down and we will go to Six Flags." Anyway there is nothing I can do about that now. Even though it was too late to physically see him in a visit I do feel that I did finally go and visit him at the service. I think he knows that. Rich knew, because we talked about it, that I was a loner who didn't quite feel that I really fit in anywhere. He would just say that he was the same way and then do his best to convince me that people did care about me and that I did fit in. Anyway I could go on and on about all of that. The whole intention of this message was to post something that Rich sent me awhile back to my regular email address. Some of the rest of you may have received this too. I'm not sure about that cause of another email he sent me a few days before the accident that it seems nobody else got. So here this one is:
*******************************************************************************
From Rich
One day a woman's husband died, and on that
 clear, cold morning, in the warmth of their bedroom, the
 wife was struck with the pain of learning
 that sometimes there isn't
 "anymore."

 No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate
 together, no more phone calls just to chat, no more
 "just one minute."
 
 Sometimes, what we care about the most
 gets all used up and goes away, never to return before we
 can say good-bye, say "I love you."

 So while we have it, it's best we love it,
  care for it, fix it when it's broken and
  heal it when it's sick.
 
 This is true for marriage ... 
 and 20old cars,
 and children with bad report cards, and dogs with
 bad hips, family and aging parents and grandparents.
 
 We keep them because they are worth it ...... 
 because we are worth it.
 
  Some things we keep -- like a best friend who moved
 away
  or a
  sister-in-law after divorce.
 
  There are just some things that make us happy, no matter
 what.
 
 Life is important. We only have one.
  We only have one mom, one dad,   
 one unique brother or sister or friend.   
  I received this from someone who thought I was a
 'keeper'!
 
 Then I sent it to the people I think of in the same way.
  Now it's your turn to send this to all those people who
 are "keepers" in your life, including the person
 who sent it, if you feel that way.
 
 Suppose one morning you never wake up. 
 Do all your friends know you love them?
 
  I was thinking.....I could die today, tomorrow or next
 week, and I wondered
if I had any wounds needing to be healed, friendships
 that needed rekindling or three words needing to be said.
 
 Let every one of your friends and family know you love
 them. Even if you think they don't love you back, you
 would be amazed at what those three little words and a smile
 can do.
 
 And just in case GOD calls me home . . .
 
  I LOVE YA !
 :-)
 
  Live today to the fullest
  because tomorrow is not a promise