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This is a thread for tributes to our dear friend, Rich.
(http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q186/southendmd/rich/richshadow.jpg)
Feel free to post photos, poems, songs, lyrics, youtubes, thoughts, etc. to celebrate our Rich.
I may copy here some of the lovely tributes on the grieving thread.
Let's start with Eric's fantastic slide show.
[youtube=525,450]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKZtRVbWjzY[/youtube]
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I was reading back thru his blog the other day and come across this video he posted once, thought about it a lot today.
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI0Q8ytD44Y[/youtube]
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I remember a music conversation I had with Rich and Mr. Country (Rich) and Mr. Disco (me) didn't always agree. However, he did tell me that he liked Exposé, and his favorite track by them was "Seasons Change".
He was so psyched when I managed to get him an autographed copy of Exposé's "Greatest Hits".
Some dreams, are in the night time, And some seem like yesterday
But leaves turn brown and fade, Ships sail away
You long to say a thousand words but Seasons Change.
It feels, like it's forever, No reason for emptiness
But time just runs away, No more day by day,
You dream and yearn and seize the day when Seasons Change
I want you - I want to feel you by my side
I need you - Don't you know I need you baby
Seasons change Feelings change It's been so long I've found you yet it seems like yesterday
Seasons change People change I'll sacrifice tomorrow just to have you here today
Forever, seems so far away, There's time for love & for play
You dream about today felling slips away
The winds that blow they go away when Seasons change
I want you - Don't hide your feelings from inside
I need you - Got to have your love now baby
Seasons change, Feelings change
It's been so long I've found you yet it seems like yesterday
Seasons change People change
I want you - I want to feel you by my side
I need you - I got to have your love now baby
Seasons change, Feelings change
It's been so long I've found you yet it seems like yesterday
Seasons change, People change
I'll sacrifice tomorrow just to have you here today
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcWfpPgeAP4[/youtube]
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This picture was inspired partly by Rich's blog, and honors the title he picked for it. I take a lot of pictures mainly for the way the light is in them. But the early evening I took this one of the sky I was feeling taken out of myself and my usual life - I would not be able to express it in words. Rich's image after he was no longer present in the flesh was the one thing I could add. We all know what he meant to so many people.
(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c112/youbetjack/Loveiswithusstill.jpg)
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I had posted this on facebook, one sad evening. It's an old Appalachian folk song, "He's Gone Away".
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG0Hc1GCy_I[/youtube]
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ph3iU2WlGg[/youtube]
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This song was on my mind on the day Rich died.
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB6a-iD6ZOY[/youtube]
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Copying posts from the Greiving thread.
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g116/CellarDweller115/SF%20Castro%20Bbm/SFCastroBBM087.jpg)
San Fran Rodeo.....where I first met Rich and Truman.
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(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g116/CellarDweller115/SF%20Castro%20Bbm/SFCastroBBM070.jpg)
My fave pic of me and Rich.....He was leaning on me, little did he know I had blown out my knee, and I was wearing a brace. I was worried we were gonna topple over.
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It was at this moment that Rich learned there is NO privacy at Brokie meetings.
:laugh: :laugh:
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g116/CellarDweller115/SF%20Castro%20Bbm/SFCastroBBM035.jpg)
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Don Wroe cabin weekend.
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g116/CellarDweller115/Don%20Roe%20Cabin%20Weekend/DonWroesCabinPart2007.jpg)
Lynne, Rich, Truman, Paul and me.
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(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g116/CellarDweller115/Don%20Roe%20Cabin%20Weekend/DonWroesCabinPart2010.jpg)(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g116/CellarDweller115/Don%20Roe%20Cabin%20Weekend/DonWroesCabinPart2011.jpg)
Paul & Rich making sure we were properly stocked for the weekend. :laugh:
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(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g116/CellarDweller115/Georgia%20Trip/Georgiatrip001.jpg)
Rich and I on a camping trip, although I don't consider being in a cabin as camping. LOL :laugh:
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(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g116/CellarDweller115/Georgia%20Trip/Georgiatrip009.jpg)
Rich in my cowboy hat.
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(http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa298/dejavu91/Feb09052group.jpg)
Rich was so happy to get the chance to meet all the members who came to the NYC meeting when he and Matthew were in town.
I found his quote on it....
Wow!
It was an INCRDIBLE evening!!!
I had a blast. Getting to meet my friends face to face...well, words fail me.
It was like old home day. Only bad thing was not enough time. For some reason it seems like someone hit the fast forward button and the night was over before i knew what happened!
When I get home I'll post my pics and hopefully I will be able to give a better account!
I just want to thank everyone who was there! It was such a great time. Brokies are the best people in the world. I felt like I was at a family reunion. 'cept there was no fighting LOL :laugh:
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(http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k463/dcfmod/Friday%2013th%20gathering%20NYC/Holiday2008003.jpg)
LoneLeeB3 (Rich) and Karen1129 (Karen)
Karen, he always had a special spot for you in his heart, don't ever forget it.
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(http://bettermost.net/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=31516.0;attach=23854;image)
One of the big events that Rich was excited about was the opportunity to meet Matthew, his "twin" from New Zealand.
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(http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k463/dcfmod/georgia%20pic/Copyofgeorgiatrip09007.jpg)
Me with Rich and Gene on one of the attempts Rich took to get me to "ride big animals" (as I said in my speech as his memorial).
I believe Rich was the Brokie who I have visited the most.
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(http://bettermost.net/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=7780.0;attach=25314;image)
Rich and Eric (SFEricSf). He was the first Brokie that Rich met, if I remember correctly.
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I see Rich every day in my cube, he's amongst all the pics I've posted from the Brokie gatherings, smiling at me every day.
I don't know if that is affecting me, but I feel like he's still near to me. My big Brother is still around.
Rich had strong faith, and I think he was bothered a bit by the fact that he felt my faith was shaken. I thought of this song today in regards to Rich by the rock group FlyLeaf. It's a song about the singer's relationship with God, but it sort of applies to how I've been feeling with Rich, still being around me.
I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding on to what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healing
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bl1AXYOseuY[/youtube]
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(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs275.snc4/40104_1289286046999_1675656252_574549_2680346_n.jpg)
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This one made me cry: Rich and all the kids together for the twins' birthday.
(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs021.snc4/33388_1260361323899_1675656252_517322_4277766_n.jpg)
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With his other baby boy:
(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs160.snc3/18733_1145664816558_1675656252_296384_5609377_n.jpg)
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This what I wrote to read at Rich's memorial service. I am sure it didn't go exactly this way, but ... for the record:
I have only known Richard about three years. I feel as if I knew him well, although most of our interaction was written correspondence until about a year ago.
We became closer in the past year - and I came to love him - and not just for himself. You see, to get Rich, you have to understand his unwavering love and dedication for his daughter, for his partner, for the rest of his family, and for his friends.
Rich was one of those rare friends with whom you could disagree, and yet both walk away with your love and esteem for one another intact and with food for thought, better for having known one another and - well - "for having found a friend where you didn't expect one."
I could go on about Rich's generosity of spirit and his love for his fellow man - indeed all creatures - but the memory that will stay with me always is that I once asked a favor of him in particular to reach out to a friend of mine who needed Rich's counsel. Rich did not hesitate.
That alone tells me the kind of man he was - one who would concern himself with the well being of a stranger because someone asked it of him.
There is a verse the Quakers like that I feel speaks to Rich's life:
You have been shown what is good.
But what is required of you?
You should act justly
You should love mercy and
You should walk humbly.
--Micah 6:8
Rich was a good man and he will always be missed.
That said, though, his life - altogether too short - stands on its own as a testament about how we all should try to live.
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The little boy, himself:
(http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q186/southendmd/rich/richlittleboy.jpg)
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Loving all the pictures, music, and memories.
Paul, I think that Metheny song is on the same album that has Spiritual, the song that inspired Annie Proulx when she was writing the dozy embrace part.
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(http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa298/dejavu91/Feb09052group.jpg)
I'm so glad you have found and posted the group shot, Chuck. What a lovely evening--after a great dinner at Bone Lick Park on Greenwich Avenue, just before some of us (including Rich!) headed over to the Stonewall, and some headed home (Jeff had to run to catch his train)--
We looked COLD! and we looked very, very happy. It was Valentine's Day 2009 (well, the weekend of ).
Rich was so tall!
Happy thoughts, sad thoughts, odd thoughts intermingled.
Me, I am not a 'believer,' and I do not even LIKE C.S. Lewis. Anyway, for whatever reason, though, this came unbidden--
“The settled happiness and security which we all desire, God withholds from us by the very nature of the world; but joy, pleasure, and merriment, He has scattered broadcast. We are never safe, but we have plenty of fun, and some ecstasy. It is not hard to see why. The security we crave would teach us to rest our hearts in this world and oppose an obstacle to our return to God: a few moments of happy love, a landscape, a symphony, a merry meeting with our friends, a bathe (swim) or a football match, have no such tendency. Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasure inns, but will not encourage us to mistake them for home”
(C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain, 116).
.....
Rest in peace, Rich Wilson, rest in peace.
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Rich had a phenomenal memory, his Mom said he could remember conception.
Early on in our conversation he recalled going to a Zoo and riverboat in the time before his father came into his life. I knew the place, the Dan River Queen and Circle M Zoo, and in 2008 was able to take him back there. Here he is on the deck of the remains of the boat:
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I remember the last time we all got together at Fairystone. Me and Rich were going to the airport in Gene's car, which he had broke the mirror on that morning in my driveway, and decided to pull a prank on Check and Paul and Lynne.
They did not know he had come up the night before, so I called Chuck and told him "I'm not sure Rich is going to make it, he can't find any gas in Atlanta" (which was having sortages at that time). Then he beeps in on Chuck and tells him the same thing, by which time we are in the airport, watching them from a distance. Lynne is on her crackberry looking for gas stations that are open in ATL. It was so funny.
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I remember the last time we all got together at Fairystone. Me and Rich were going to the airport in Gene's car, which he had broke the mirror on that morning in my driveway, and decided to pull a prank on Check and Paul and Lynne.
They did not know he had come up the night before, so I called Chuck and told him "I'm not sure Rich is going to make it, he can't find any gas in Atlanta" (which was having sortages at that time). Then he beeps in on Chuck and tells him the same thing, by which time we are in the airport, watching them from a distance. Lynne is on her crackberry looking for gas stations that are open in ATL. It was so funny.
That's a good memory, Truman. He laughed so hard and if I recall, harder, the more 'outraged' I acted at being so put out. :laugh:
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That's a good memory, Truman. He laughed so hard and if I recall, harder, the more 'outraged' I acted at being so put out. :laugh:
And you have been there waiting since 2 AM.
I think there may still be some of that Makers mark about under the cabinet.....
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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.) :-*
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:'(
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48o5rCFFxh8&feature=related[/youtube]
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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:
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And he was forever on the phone. Everytime I saw him he would get 20-30 calls a day and I ain't joking.
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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!
:-*
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;D
I remember that!
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Thinking of Rich tonite. Took a walk and saw a big ol' full moon in the east. :)
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(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h269/merylmarie/Catchall/martiniKetelOne.jpg)
Sending this one upstairs to Rich :-*
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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)
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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
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Wow, Jack. Timely. I'm thinking that Rich may have died with few deep regrets. Thank you so much for sharing that.
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I've never posted music before, so this may not work. This was the song I listened to on the day that Rich passed away. Afterwards, I couldn't seem to get it out of my mind. The first part puts words to Rich's joyful spirit. The second part, Over the Rainbow, describes a magical land just out of reach that is full of beauty and love. The singer expresses a wish that he could go over the rainbow, but Rich, IMO, did actually go there, and gave us the courage, the heart, and the brain, to go there ourselves, and to make it our home.
This is sung by a Hawaiian artist who has since died.
DivShare File - 14 Somewhere Over the Rainbow _ What a Wo.m4a (http://www.divshare.com/download/12407945-bcd)
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Hi, Lee, I know that song well. Here it is, by Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole:
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bFr2SWP1I[/youtube]
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That is a lovely version, friend Paul, and I loved seeing the video. Give a listen to the version I've posted too, because embedded in the middle of it is this song:
I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.
I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
They're really saying I love you.
I hear babies cry, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll never know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world.
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Let's start with Eric's fantastic slide show.
[youtube=525,450]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKZtRVbWjzY[/youtube]
This is a great slide show. :)
And I'm glad the pic of Rich coming out of the port-a-potty got included...that was so funny when Chuck took that picture in 2007! :laugh:
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Hi Everyone,
Sorry I haven't been on in a while but life is keeping me VERY busy right now. School is really hard the second time around. I'm not sure I'm smarter then a 7th grader. :)
I still want to post pictures of Richard. It's just a matter of stopping long enough to do it but I will do it.
I have to tell you a little story. This weekend, we decided to go to the Humane Society to "look" at dogs. I told Elizabeth that we were just looking. Well, I couldn't find it so we stopped at a store that she and her dad used to go to - I had never been in it - but it was a mom & pop pet store for all types of pets. While in there walking around, we saw a lady with a dog. We stopped to pet the dog and Elizabeth sat on the floor and played. The lady then told us it was up for adoption. It was to be put down a week ago but her agency saved it and they place dogs. When they place one, they go to the Humane Society to save another. Well, we were both hooked right away. And to top it off, the dogs name was "Cowboy". We didn't name him that, it was his name. Needless to say, we never made it to the Humane Society. We brought Cowboy home with us that afternoon.
Once I have a picture of Cowboy and Elizabeth together, I will post it. I definately think her dad had a little something to do with this - he's still watching.
Hope to talk to you guys soon,
Marcia
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I thought everyone could use a little smile and you probably have never seen this picture.
It was from February 2004 :) Hope this brightens your day!
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What a great picture Marcia !!!
Thank you for that.
Made me smile.
Karen
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Marcia, all I can say about that coincidence, is that there ARE no coincidences.
How very lovely...
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Love the picture!! And love Cowboy!!
Is Cowboy a herding type of dog?
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Rich:
If I have seen further it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants.
~ Sir Issac Newton
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Sweet picture, Marcia! Thanks for posting it, and telling the story about Cowboy.
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Once I have a picture of Cowboy and Elizabeth together, I will post it. I definately think her dad had a little something to do with this - he's still watching.
Marcia, that's a great story. I'm really glad Elizabeth found a dog she likes, and Cowboy is the perfect name.
What luck! :) If you can call it "luck" at all.
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Thought about posting this under 'Kerry's Komedy Klub', but in light of recent events, this really isn't a joke:
~~~
Subject: Bank Account
Imagine that you had won the following prize in a contest:
Each morning your bank would deposit $86,400 in your private bank account for your own use. However, this prize has rules, just as any game has certain rules.
The first set of rules would be:
1) Everything that you didn't spend during each day would be taken away from you.
2) You may not simply transfer money into some other account. You may only spend it.
3) Each morning upon awakening, the bank opens your account with another $86,400.00 for that day.
The second set of rules:
1) The bank can end the game without warning; at any time it can say,"It's over, the game is over!"
2) It can close the account in an instant and you will not receive a new one.
What would you personally do? You would buy anything and everything you wanted, right? Not only for yourself, but for all the people in your life, right? Maybe even for people you don't know, because you couldn't possibly spend it all on yourself and the people in your life, right? You would try to spend every single cent, and use it all up every day, right?
Actually, this game is a reality, but not with money! Each of us is in possession of such a magical bank. We just don't seem to see it.
The MAGICAL BANK is TIME!
Each morning we awaken and receive 86,400 seconds as a gift of life, and when the day is done, any remaining time is gone and NOT credited to us. What we haven't lived up to that day is lost forever. Yesterday is forever gone.
Each morning the account is refilled, but the magical bank can dissolve our account at any time....WITHOUT WARNING.
SO, what will YOU do with your 86,400 seconds? Think about that, and always think of this: Enjoy every second of your life, because time races by so much quicker than we think. Take good care of yourself, and enjoy life. Live each day to the fullest, be kind to one another, and be forgiving. Harbor a positive attitude and always be the first to smile.
Here's wishing you a wonderful, beautiful day, each and every day!!!
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The Summer Day
Mary Oliver
Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean--
The one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down--
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
Reprinted by permission of Beacon Press from New and Selected Poems. Copyright 1992 by Mary Oliver. For further permissions information, contact Beacon Press, 25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108-2892
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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
That is so perfect Jack. I love you for posting this You have a wonderful heart, and are so caring. I knew that from the first time I met you. I have always been so glad you came here to join,us at Bettermost. You are a true and treasured member. Plus thanks again for your kind offer to help me. I was so sad that I could not make it there. Lov Janice
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Thanks for posting Janice. I was starting to get a complex about the poem that I posted. :)
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I met up with three Brokies today from the DCF forum while in London.
They are not active members here, but they were aware of Rich's passing.
They asked me how I was doing, and gave me the opportunity to discuss Rich, and share some of my stories of him. We had some good laughs today.
Thanks Rich for all the great memories! :-*
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I just ran across a FB picture I took of Meryl, with Paul and Chuck on either side...
Rich's comment:
"The high priestess and the alter boys!!"
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;D 8) :D :-*
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Thanks for posting Janice. I was starting to get a complex about the poem that I posted. :)
You need never feel a complex, about anything. You are an inspiration and a role model for all of us. We just say "what would Lee do."
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(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g116/CellarDweller115/SF%20Castro%20Bbm/SFCastroBBM070.jpg)(http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k463/dcfmod/georgia%20pic/Copyofgeorgiatrip09007.jpg)
I have these two pics side-by-side in my cube.
Thinking about you, Rich......a day doesn't go by where you don't cross my mind in some way.
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Chuck, he's still giving us that dozy embrace, in spirit!
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Drove over yesterday from Missouri into Kansas thru KC. Was driving along for a couple hours, out into the wilds of nowhere, and finally, the sunflowers appeared. They were everywhere, and I got such a warm, fuzzy feeling that Rich was looking over from the side of the road, smiling and shining.
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Hi Everyone,
I just wanted to log on and say Hi. Our life is pretty crazy right now. Elizabeth is struggling in school and with personal issues and I think she is coming to terms with what has happened. I am feeling much stronger nowadays and am working very closely with her. We do hours of homework together every night. (I didn't like school the first time around :) ) We are having a hard time in several areas however; we are two strong girls and will make it through this. She and I always had a strong bond but it is much tigher now. There is no way Richard would want me to break down. Elizabeth was our world and I will do everything in my power to make sure she grows up just as we had always planned.
We are working on our Halloween custome. She has picked out several things but I hve to remind her she is 12 - some of these customes are NOT appropriate. Richard use to always say he wanted to put a brick on her head to stop her from growing up. I'm thinking about a big huge cement block!
I hope everyone is doing well. Thank you for your support, kindness, prayers and e-mails.
Marcia
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Hi, Marcia, thanks for letting us know how you and Bizzy are doing. Everyone here appreciates hearing from you!
In terms of what's going on, I don't know if either of you has ever lost anyone close to you before, but I can tell ya, there's definitely a point in time after the passing and after all of the details are sorted and after the funeral and after the condolences and after the immediate repercussions once everybody's gone, etc., that the strong person you HAD to be, must go back to being who they were before their loss. It kind of scared me, but didn't surprise me, to read the posts about how strong and positive Bizzy was during Rich's memorial weekend. It's perfectly normal for the fallout of all that to appear and to present itself in various ways as time goes on -- some of them more positive than you could have imagined, and some of them not so much.
You're a good mom, and you've been through soooooo much in the last few years. Reach out to your friends and family, and to us, whenever you need a little booster shot for all that strength you've got. People on here, they build you up whenever you're scared of falling.
Be good to yourself, Marcia. We love you!
P.S. Gave me a huge giggle to read what Rich said about stopping Bizzy from growing up. :)
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Hi Mandy,
Thanks for your support - your notes have always been so kind. Today has been a hard day for me. Elizabeth is at a friends so I didn't need to be strong for a little while so I just lost it. It's the first time I have been able to in a long time. Even though we were divorced, we will still good friends and I miss him SOOOOO very much. He was always there to pick me up when I was down - I'm down now and he isn't here to pick me up. I haven't lost someone close to me like this before. I have lost family but they were older, sick, struggling with a disease, etc.... I haven't lost someone close to me in an accident like this and it's just unreal. I just can't believe he isn't here. 20 years with this person and he is gone. Our relationship wasn't like most divorced people. We knew we would be together for life because of Elizabeth. I look at Elizabeth and wonder how do I do this and make sure she remembers everything - despite our differences, he was a wonderful person with a heart of gold. As you can tell, I'm still grieving very much tonight. I do every night but I can let it out tonight. I am lost without him but I'm so afraid for Elizabeth. I just want her to be a happy girl, remember all the good times and have a long happy life. I love her more than anything in this world and it just hurts me to see her hurt or sad.
Ok - I better log off for the night. I don't want to bring anyone down. Just please continue to send prayers to my daughter.
Marcia
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I just realized something that feels a little bit bittersweet.
I have been taking the #76 bus to work for almost 20 months.
Over this past weekend, I realized that I know to press the "Next Stop Needed" button when I hear the Wilson Road announcement; it is the stop before mine.
I like having this almost daily reminder of him. I will take a photo next chance I get.
Perhaps of some interest is that this bus route goes through Lexington, MA, and the road would be the one to get to Concord, where the 'shot heard round the world' was fired, eventually leading to US independence.
I think Rich would have liked that.
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I think he would have too.
I just realized something that feels a little bit bittersweet.
I have been taking the #76 bus to work for almost 20 months.
Over this past weekend, I realized that I know to press the "Next Stop Needed" button when I hear the Wilson Road announcement; it is the stop before mine.
I like having this almost daily reminder of him. I will take a photo next chance I get.
Perhaps of some interest is that this bus route goes through Lexington, MA, and the road would be the one to get to Concord, where the 'shot heard round the world' was fired, eventually leading to US independence.
I think Rich would have liked that.
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Just a note to say HELLO-
Elizabeth finished her first quarter and despite everything going on in her world - she got all A's and B's. I'm so proud of her and I know her dad would be too. We talk about him every day - sometimes smiling and some times crying. We both miss him very much - more then anyone will understand. My heart just breaks for Elizabeth but she is a tough little cookie and will be a much stronger little girl - she came into this world a fighter! She absolutely knows how much she is loved - by mom and dad! I tell her all the time.
***Mandy - I got your message and will get in touch soon - I can't say much on here anymore***
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Call or email anytime, Marcia and Bizzy. Hope you enjoyed the sunflower postcards from Kansas. Stay strong.
We all miss him.
Big hugs!
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thanks for keeping us update Marcia.
Glad to her Elizabeth is doing well at School. And dealing with things well. :-*
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Very cool grades for Bizy!
Thanks for letting us know!
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I can see Rich reflected in Elizabeth. She is brave, strong, and noble as her namesake!!
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I miss Rich.
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I miss Rich.
I do too, Chrissi.
I hear his voice in my head when I think of him, and I see him every day on my cubicle wall.
I miss the phone calls, PMs through here, emails, hugs, you name it.
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I wish I heard his voice.... :-\
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Do you remember that project of Phillip's where we all called in and left a message? I wonder if Rich participated in that. I remember Anke and Kelda, but I'm not sure about him.
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I was thinking of that. And I believe there may be a separate thread where peeps recorded themselves reading excerpts from the short story. I didn't participate in either (assuming they were different) but maybe someone else knows how to find and bump them so we can check?
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Do you remember that project of Phillip's where we all called in and left a message? I wonder if Rich participated in that. I remember Anke and Kelda, but I'm not sure about him.
I was thinking of that. And I believe there may be a separate thread where peeps recorded themselves reading excerpts from the short story. I didn't participate in either (assuming they were different) but maybe someone else knows how to find and bump them so we can check?
I remember the project Lee mentions, but I don't think Rich participated.
I can't remember anything with forum members reading parts of the short story. ???
I'll have a look for both and report back.
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I found it: http://bettermost.net/forum/index.php/topic,8932.0.html (http://bettermost.net/forum/index.php/topic,8932.0.html)
As I thought, Rich is not on it. The messages are from early spring 2007, before Rich joined our community.
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I've searched and thought about it some more. Lynne, I'm sure there was never a recording where several members read parts of the short story. I believe you mixed together the recording of Rodney reading the story with the above recording of member greetings.
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I've searched and thought about it some more. Lynne, I'm sure there was never a recording where several members read parts of the short story. I believe you mixed together the recording of Rodney reading the story with the above recording of member greetings.
I distinctly remember a thread where some people (Truman, Fiona, Aussi Sue) web-cammed themselves reading parts of the story. No idea where it is, though.
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I distinctly remember a thread where some people (Truman, Fiona, Aussi Sue) web-cammed themselves reading parts of the story. No idea where it is, though.
Oh - ok then. When two people remember it, I guess I stand corrected.
Do you know if there's a chance that Rich was on it?
ETA: Is it this? I haven't checked the whole thread, so I'm not sure.
http://bettermost.net/forum/index.php/topic,21905.0.html (http://bettermost.net/forum/index.php/topic,21905.0.html)
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I doubt Rich is in that thread, but that's definitely the one.
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Thanks, y'all. It was worth a shot. :*
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I found it as well, but alas, no Rich. Four of our ladies, plus Chucky, though. Was worth the search to watch those again.
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Thanks very much for bumping the thread with the well wishes!! I will look forward to hearing the many voices and accents again!!
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I recently had a special favor done for me.
On DCF we have a member named SuelyBlu. She made the trip to Canada, and was able to see the shooting locations for Brokeback.
It was a trip that Rich had wanted to take, but wasn't able to.
When she posted she was going to the movie locations, I asked her to please do something for me. I sent her a pic of me and Rich. Sue printed out the pic and wrote on it:
"He was a friend of mine. RIP From Chuck"
She left this at the Basque Bridge for me, in honor of Rich.
(http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k463/dcfmod/Suely2.jpg)
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thats lovely chuck.....
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Yes, very lovely.
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Oh that was a wonderful thing to do Chuck,I know he would be happy.
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that´s quite something, Chuck
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So, Rich's birthday is coming up tomorrow. Yes, he's still on the calendar. Why not, after all? We celebrate Heath's birthday too.
I still love him like a brother. Here's a silly photo from September 2008. Arm-wrestling, as if I had a chance! Probably over the last piece of chess pie.
(http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q186/southendmd/rich/richpaularmwrestling.jpg)
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To Bizysmom: I know you 't know me at all. I know you very well however. I know
your beautiful little girl, how sweet she is, how bright and energetic. How smart and
pretty, and how much she loves animals. She is crazy about her mom, and her dad as
well. She loved going to her grampas and grandmas and riding the horses. I know
how much she loved you both, and how outgoing and generous she was. I am so sure
that she got all those very special traits from the two of you. Some of them, I am sure
she was born with and others she has learned by teaching and by example. I have
loved you and her, as well as Rich since day one that he came here and joined our
group. He was a very special person. I even got to meet him in person one time. The
time that we all went to San Francisco. It was definitely one of the greatest highlights
of my life. It was just one more of the wonderful things I have experienced after seeing this wonderful movie. It was fortunately the best movie I have ever seen, and
has given me so much insight that I didn't have before. I have made so many wonderful friends, so much love and care for complete strangers that I had never thought would happen to me. I am so so sorry for all the pain and grief that you are
going through at this difficult time. Trust that I am going through a portion of what you are also. I loved him like another son. I hope that you and bizy are getting better day
by day. I so wanted to be there myself for the service. I have had so many medical
issues this last year, and had already been scheduled for a trip to visit my grandaughter in Ohio. It was a reschedule from one that was scheduled for an earlier
time. I got sick and had to go to the hospital as soon as I got back home. I know that
is not a problem of yours. However I was just wanting to say that I did so want to be
there and was not able.
I hope you will continue to check in here from time to time, and let us know about
how you are both doing. We love hearing from you, and about how she is faring in
this terrible tragedy she has had to suffer this year. Not only having lost her father,
but others in her family as well. I give you a cyber hug and hope that it gives you
some solace. Give (her) a hug from me also....((((((hugs and loveing))))) Mama Janice
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Did I take that picture? I remember the arm-wrestling and I think it was over pie, but I cannot remember what kind.
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Rich, we miss and love you.
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This was the 1st letter I ever wrote to my beloved Rich (loneleeb3)
September 11th , 2008
Rich, There is something I want to tell you but, have not been able to find the words in my head to make it sound right. So I thought I would sit down and just right about what I am feeling in my heart rather then in my head. See I had reached a point in my life where I felt falling in Love was a thing of the past for me. There were nice people, it’s true but no more magic, no more being swept off my feet. Then right about the time I was ready to close that chapter of my life you walked in, and every thing changed. Suddenly, I find myself smiling almost all the time. The more I learn about you, the more astounded I feel at just how perfect you seem for me. There is no escaping the fact that what is happening between us is meant to be. I can’t deny that every time you hold me in your arms I begin to think that maybe life has saved the very best for last. I am not trying to tell you that I am madly in love with you because, I know that takes time. However what I am trying to tell you is that I am falling in love with you a little bit more each day, and for the first time in a long time I am looking forward to tomorrow and the days to follow.
Gene
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Gene, I am so glad you found us here on BetterMost.
Rich often talked of you, your sons, and his love for you here, and I know the members will be pleased to meet you, and support you!
:-*
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Gene - what Chuckie said - a thousand welcomes to you! You have a home here, always, I hope you know. Say the word and we'll start you a blog of your own where you can keep your thoughts both random and deliberate and pictures and whatever else occurs to you.
I love your first post, your letter to Rich. Well done, my Friend. I am sure that you brought him happiness in the all-too-brief time you had together.
You have both been on my mind all day today.
In the way of Brokeback Mountain, sit awhile, with a boot in the fire - explore and post wherever you feel moved. I go back and read more than I post lately, but that comes and goes.
I'm very glad you're here, Friend of my Friend.
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I'm very glad you're here, Friend of my Friend.
Like Lynne and Chuck said, Gene, I'm glad you're here. Thanks so much for that beautiful first post.
Meryl
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Gene, I'm glad you found your way here. Thank you for sharing your letter, it was moving to read it.
If there is anything I can do to help you to find your way around the site, please PM me, or any other mod of course.
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Gene,
I echo what everyone else has said hun.
xx
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Gene, I'm so touched and thrilled by your post. Thank you so much for coming here, and for sharing that with us.
Wow...
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This was the 1st letter I ever wrote to my beloved Rich (loneleeb3)
September 11th , 2008
Rich, There is something I want to tell you but, have not been able to find the words in my head to make it sound right. So I thought I would sit down and just right about what I am feeling in my heart rather then in my head. See I had reached a point in my life where I felt falling in Love was a thing of the past for me. There were nice people, it’s true but no more magic, no more being swept off my feet. Then right about the time I was ready to close that chapter of my life you walked in, and every thing changed. Suddenly, I find myself smiling almost all the time. The more I learn about you, the more
astounded I feel at just how perfect you seem for me. There is no escaping the fact that what is happening between us is meant to be. I can’t deny that every time you hold me in your arms I begin to think that maybe life has saved the very best for last. I am not trying to tell you that I am madly in love with you because, I know that takes time. However what I am trying to tell you is that I am falling in love with you a little bit more each day, and for the first time in a long time I am looking forward to tomorrow and the days to follow.
Gene
Gene:
I know you don't even know me. I was unable to go to the service you had for our
beloved Rich. I am so glad to see you here however. I talked to him from the first
moment he came here. He was so undecided and did not know what to do at all.
He was so unhappy and fearful. But day by day he made his choices. He met more'
and more people here on line. He was so easy to know, and so warm and receptive.
I am sure I am telling you what you know more than any of us, but I was just telling you the kind of person we saw too.
Then little at a time he made those moves and grew to accept himself as what he
really was, then he met you. He blossomed like the beautiful flower that he was. Love is like that when you feel it. It not only makes you feel better, but the ones you
love, and all those around you. You gave him exactly what he needed from the first
day he came here. I know that you had a very short time together, but I know it
was universally given and you both gained so very much for it. I know you don't know me although I wish I had gotten the chance to meet you, but it was not to be. I will say Rich called me mama, and I called him son, you can too if you like. If not you can just say Janice.
If you ever need anyone to talk to, or lay a burden on, I am here for you. I
would love to have you to talk to as I did him..
Mama janice
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Can't figure out who made me cry harder this morning -- Gene or Janice.
Both of your heartfelt sentiments give me so much hope for the future, believing in love and kindness and friendship. It's lovely.
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Hey Gene,
So glad you made it here. You already know we're all crazy about Rich too.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful letter.
You're an honorary Brokie.
Paul
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Hi, Gene, this is Lee. I'm so glad you and Rich found each other before it was too late. Your letter breaks my heart, but thank you for sharing it anyway. I hope you will find a happy home here on BetterMost where you can enjoy the memory of Rich with us all the time. :-*
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Hey Gene, I am glad you made it here too.
It has been a very overwhelming time these past four months. I know Rich would be proud of you the way you handled things and will continue to do so. He was happy with you, he was in a good place and I am so glad the two of you had that.
I pray for you to have the strength and the perspective to find now what is real. Separate from it what Rich used to call "Manufactured Drama". This world is a better place for his having lived in it, and nothing can take that away. As I see it, in his seperate and unequal journey he had two things that brought him joy, his daughter and you.
The rest of us got to bask in the light of that joy, and it was glorious.
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Well thank you to Mama, and every one else on here for making me feel welcomed. I must say that it is a little strange being on here for me, because I know this was always Rich's little part of the world. I knew the the 1st week I met Rich about this site and his journals, and at one point he wanted me to come on here , but I always thought it was best to let him have a place of his own to go to and be with people he loved and cared about so he could write freely what was on his mind and get some feed back from all of you. I must, however say that being here now feels really good. I love being able to see Rich's writings, and I swear I can hear his voice as I read them and I have already read everyone of them twice since last night. I was so upset when his face book account went missing and I had no were else to leave him little mesages, but know I have this and it feels good. I knew my whole time with Rich that I was in the middle of a wonderful love story but, I really never knew how truly moving of a story I was in and still am in until I saw his life both with and with out me threw his eyes, and in his own words. I am truly one Lucky cowboy to have had him in my life.
I do miss Rich terrably, and I have not had one day were I do not cry. Some days are better then others , but there are always buckets of tears lol. I have, do , and always will love that man so much . There is no doubt in my mind that he was my soul mate and I shall never be the same until we are together again. No matter how many years I must wait. I must tell all of you that I knew everyday how much Rich loved me (He also we call and tell me like a dozen times a day) it showed in every way imaginable, but since his death the amount of love and the power of his love are just so over whelming at times I know that he is always with me. Well i will finish for know as I much go start dinner and feed the horses. Thanks again every one and Hugs
Ps. I love you Rich Love :-*
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((Gene))
Rich is in peace up there.
You need time to grieve but he wouldn't want you to remain sad.
Remember him. Love him. But please don't live forever under his shadow.
He was, he is, a good man. He'd want you to continue to blossom after this bloody horrible, harsh winter.
:-*
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Welcome to Bettermost Gene. Thank you for posting your letter to Rich. Take care of yourself dear.
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Welcome to our safe haven, Gene. :D
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Welcome to our safe haven, Gene. :D
You can say that twice and mean it. ;)
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((( Gene )))
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I knew my whole time with Rich that I was in the middle of a wonderful love story but, I really never knew how truly moving of a story I was in and still am in until I saw his life both with and with out me threw his eyes, and in his own words. I am truly one Lucky cowboy to have had him in my life.
Wow.
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Thank you for sharing, Gene. Your words about Rich are very touching.
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Hi, Lee, I know that song well. Here it is, by Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole:
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bFr2SWP1I[/youtube]
This singer was featured today on "50 Great Voices" on NPR:
http://www.npr.org/2010/12/06/131812500/israel-kamakawiwo-ole-the-voice-of-hawaii (http://www.npr.org/2010/12/06/131812500/israel-kamakawiwo-ole-the-voice-of-hawaii)
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Well, you all know (if you know me) that my voicemail is always full.
I always blame it on Mom and Chris leaving me one-liners like 'I called.' and it gets tiresome cleaning them out.
Well, it turns out that's not the only reason. I also save messages from Brokies and a few other friends. I've got Truman singing me Happy Birthday more times than he'd probably be comfy about if I were to... say... make a mix.
;)
(Chuck - can you help me with that?) :laugh:
Anyhow, tonight is de-clutter and get geared up for the new job search and all those things. Our Christmas is tomorrow and there's nothing more I can do there.
So I decide to take a stab at cleaning out my voice mail.
Here's the first message. (I don't know where Truman's Love One Another message from Estes Park went - it used to be the first one - maybe the system deletes them if they're too old or I accidentally deleted it? I'm sure sorry if I did.)
???
The automated voice comes on and says
You have a voice message left on Saturday, February 16, 2008 at 9:28 Central Time:
Truman: "Lynne, this is Truman. Did you know that sometimes being a bitch is the only thing a woman has to hold on to?" [Truman and someone else are laughing hysterically in the background; I can barely understand the words. He continues...] "or that’s what Dolores Claiborne says." [more laughing and conversation in the background and this time I can make out - ] "Uh..i dunno. Hey - do you wanna say hi to her?" [Then to me: ] "Here comes Rich. Hold on."
Rich: "Hey, how you doin?"
Truman: "OK, well, call us back. Bye!"
Somehow I want that message safely off my phone in an audio file somewhere...not erasing it, ever. You should have seen me replaying it to get the perfect transcript and carefully only touching 4 to replay or 7 to save...9 to erase is evil.
Tru - do you remember what y'all were up to 2/16/2008? I believe I called back, but I don't remember speaking with you - can you remember if we talked or if I left a message. And I can't figure out why y'all (or possibly I?) were in Central Time? Not VA nor ATL nor WA (where I was then). If my chronology is correct, this is the February before the Fairystone Park trip. Help! Nosy people want to know...
And miss Rich. Do I even have to say how precious those four words are to me?
:'(
He knows all the answers to all the questions for sure now.
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You are so lucky to have that message! Preserve it forever!! Sometimes voicemail is a blessing. There are some messages I keep resaving over and over.
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That was the time he came up here and we went up to Christiansburg and went all around where his family was from and where he was born and came back and ate supper at a Mexican resturant and then we watched Delores Claiborn and consumed adult beverages. Lawd I had forgot allllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll about leaving that message, that is funny as hell!
Thank you and yes, do save that somehow. Call your cell phone provider.
I have this collection of old cell phones and I charged one up recently to get a number off of it and I looked at the text messages still on them and there was one or more from Rich and this one in particular, so typical for him, just an out of the blue message "I love you and I am so thankful your in my life."
That was my brother. I am so thankful for the three years of our acquaintance.
-
Those saved messages are precious, I'm happy for you that you have them. :)
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as am I.
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Today I feel the need to remember and celebrate Rich and Gene as a couple.
They truly loved each other.
Here is the first time that Rich told his BetterMost family about Gene.
So, here I am at this point in the road. There is something that has been going on in my life but I haven't really discussed it here. I think it's time to do that. Not because I am narcissistic or want to put every detail of my life out in the public forum. It's because you all have been such a part of my life for the past two years! Lord, can you believe two years have come and gone? It's flown by since those early days I felt so lost and alone and came here looking for others who were as impacted as myself by Ennis and Jack. Y'all have lifted me up when I was down, calmed my fears when I was scared, gave me courage and gave me strength when I was weak. Y'all, my friends, have been here through some of the darkest days of my life and helped me through. I will be eternally grateful for the compassion and kindness that has been shown to me by this loving family called Bettermost.
It seems as if my story is coming full circle. I came here lonlee and afraid, hence my name. I was convinced that I was going to wind up in trailer 17 to live out my final days. Alone, afraid, bitter and filled with regret. Well, it appears that will not be the case.
I have met someone that I am sharing my life with and hope to share the rest of my life with. His name is Gene and he's wonderful. he is a father too with 4 boys that he has raised on his own. He is retired military and a gifted horse trainer. He has met Elizabeth and loves her to death. Elizabeth loves him and his boys. We have a blast together.
Gene and I met through a mutual friend last July. When I heard about him I was intrigued but when I saw him I was more than intrigued! LOL After we went out a few times and had countless talks on the phone I went to meet his boys. His oldest is 17, then 15 and he has twins who are 13 almost 14. They were great. I have to say, these boys have been through alot. There mother was abusive and neglectful. She walked out on Gene when the twins were two months old. Then came back a few years later and fought for custody and won. It is so hard for a single man to get custody of his children much less a single gay man and that was played out a lot in the court room. Texas is not a very tolerent state at times. However, three years later he went back into that same court room and won them back.
He has done a fantastic job as a father. All the boys are in the A B honor except one and he is in the A honor roll.
All the boys are involved in sports. The one that is in the A honor roll plays Football (he was the quarterback and took his team to the state playoffs) wrestles,plays baseball and is on swimteam, the others play hockey, wrestle and swim.
I was a bit hesitant at first. i wasn't sure about the whole relationship thing and If I was ready. We talked about it and he was very patient. He knew what I was going through and gave me space but told me that he wasn't going to sit by forever. He didn't have to. When I thought I might lose him thats when I knew for sure what I wanted.
So, we have been sharing a home together since January. He has met my Mom and my step mom. He was there for me after my dad passed and has been a big help at the farm and with the horses.
We still have hurdles to get over and challenges ahead. He is in a different place than I am. I am still in the process of coming out I guess. Thankfully he is a patient man and he loves me and is just there for me.
So, there it is! No trailer 17 for this cowboy! LOL I'm attaching a pic of him and 3 of the boys. I asked and he was fine with it. :laugh: So, thats where I am at this point in the road.
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(http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k463/dcfmod/Rich%20Wilson%20and%20Gene%20Pisseri%20-%20A%20couple%20in%20love/2.jpg)
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(http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k463/dcfmod/Rich%20Wilson%20and%20Gene%20Pisseri%20-%20A%20couple%20in%20love/4.jpg)
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(http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k463/dcfmod/Rich%20Wilson%20and%20Gene%20Pisseri%20-%20A%20couple%20in%20love/Copyofgeorgiatrip09015.jpg)
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(http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k463/dcfmod/Rich%20Wilson%20and%20Gene%20Pisseri%20-%20A%20couple%20in%20love/georgiatrip09017.jpg)
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(http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k463/dcfmod/Rich%20Wilson%20and%20Gene%20Pisseri%20-%20A%20couple%20in%20love/georgiatrip09015.jpg)
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(http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k463/dcfmod/Rich%20Wilson%20and%20Gene%20Pisseri%20-%20A%20couple%20in%20love/1.jpg)
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Thank you very much for the photos and tributes, friend. Viewing them makes me very happy.
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Thank you very much for the photos and tributes, friend. Viewing them makes me very happy.
I agree. Today is a good day to post these.
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Richard Wilson loved Gene Pisseri. This I make a part of the testimony of my life.
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Richard Wilson loved Gene Pisseri. This I make a part of the testimony of my life.
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(http://www.bia2.com/ramona/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/ea2ca820f0ddd46261c95fec1c3667bf.jpg)
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Yes.. he loved Gene very much. Nothing can take that away from gene, or rich up there in heaven. And we all know the truth and material losses don't matter where that love is concerned.
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Yes.. he loved Gene very much. Nothing can take that away from gene, or rich up there in heaven. And we all know the truth and material losses don't matter where that love is concerned.
Couldn't say it any better, Kelda.
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Thanks for bringing us our new friend RichardsJack to help keep the memory of our dear friend Richard alive.
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Thanks to all of you ... I am overwhelmed with love.. Life is a better place because I have all of you in it, and I will always have my Rich.
PS. I love you Rich ;D
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We're glad to have you here, Gene. You have a home with us. :-*
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Can't say how great it is to have you here Gene. We will love your posts always.
Janice
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Just found this thread.
Gene, glad to have you here.
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Dear Rich,
Yesterday I heard stories of you and your Brokeback Mountain friends in San Francisco for the rodeo in September 2007. I suppose that was technically the first time we met, but I was only there for the movie for a short time, and you're not clear in my mind until the following February. I wanted you to know how well you are remembered by generous hearts and that stories about your adventures are still being told, as I imagine it will always be.
Love,
Lynne
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6 months.
6 months today.
Feels like decades have passed since this angel disappeared...
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Very hard to believe Mandy. :'(
Gene, can I just say again, how good it is to see you here, and how lucky Rich was to have you. (And Elizabeth for that matter, she knows where you are if she needs you.)
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Rich:
I know how dearly you are missed by your dear ones. I am sure that they are
sorely in need of you daily. The reason I know this, is I am still so missing you
and the ability to speak to you. I hope you are well and happy now wherever you
are. I know you still look on all of us from time to time in that place, wherever.
I love you dearly son
mama Janice
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I received a precious gift in the post today -- a DVD of Rich's life that his partner Gene, I think, put together. It's a photo montage of Rich's life, from cradle to grave, so to speak, and it was sent to me by my friend and his ex-wife Marcia. It lasts about 40 minutes, and I only cried for the first 10 or so, and then I laughed through the rest of it.
Seeing someone who loved life that much was awe-inspiring. He put the rest of us to shame.
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That sounds like a wonderful video.
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Wow!
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Almost a year.
Not sure what I'm going to do to mark the day. I'll think of something.
Miss you, big brother.
-
((Chuck))
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Thanks to all of you ... I am overwhelmed with love.. Life is a better place because I have all of you in it, and I will always have my Rich.
PS. I love you Rich ;D
Happy birthday, friend! Don't forget to come here and get your piece a cherry cake, or cup of coffee if you can't have no cake right now. Take one for Rich too! :'( :-* :)
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Wow, Gene, your first letter to Rich is absolutely incredible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Thinking of Rich.
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I love that photo of him..
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I can't believe its almost a year. I say that but in some ways it seems longer.
Thinkin' of you Rich.
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(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g116/CellarDweller115/SF%20Castro%20Bbm/SFCastroBBM070.jpg)
7/31/2010 I got that awful phonecall that told me I had lost one of my friends, one of the guys who "adopted me" as a little brother.
Rich, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of you.
I miss our phone conversations, our laughs, our talks, our visits.
I will always remember that our last phone call together, we ended it with "I love you!"
Miss you!
-
I started a candle page for Rich - and for us, I suppose - tonight:
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=Rich
Chrissi gave a lovely toast tonight after dinner in remembrance. Thank you very much, (((Chrissi))).
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Lynne, you beat me to it by a minute. I started a group for Rich under "BBM" here:
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=BBM
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h269/merylmarie/BBMLinesVisualized/BrokeArseMountain/candles2.jpg)
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Lynne, you beat me to it by a minute. I started a group for Rich under "BBM" here:
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=BBM
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h269/merylmarie/BBMLinesVisualized/BrokeArseMountain/candles2.jpg)
Thank you, Meryl...that's better - I didn't really know what I was doing. :-*
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Thanks to both of you for doing both.
Missing you Bud. As many of us do.
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Would it be ok to put a link to the candles on the "Rich & Gene" page that I started on Facebook? It's private, so only friends of Rich and Gene would see it.
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Of course, Chuck - that would be nice.
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Would it be ok to put a link to the candles on the "Rich & Gene" page that I started on Facebook? It's private, so only friends of Rich and Gene would see it.
You bet!
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Actually, Lynne beat me to it!
;D
Thanks Lynne, I ended up spending over two hours on the phone, so I'm glad you did that. Thanks!
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Time it was
and what a time it was.
A time of innocence
A time of confidentces
Long ago
and not so long ago
I have a photograph
Persevere your memories
They're all that's left to you.
--Simon & Garfunkel
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Time it was
and what a time it was.
A time of innocence
A time of confidentces
Long ago
and not so long ago
I have a photograph
Persevere your memories
They're all that's left to you.
--Simon & Garfunkel
:)
Lighting another candle:
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=BBM
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some people don't understand
sometimes even I don't understand
that you can miss someone
you never met in person
so much.
But it's not any less true.
Love to you, Rich.
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Beautiful, Chrissi.
It was very comforting to light a candle for Rich. Thank you, Chuck.
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some people don't understand
sometimes even I don't understand
that you can miss someone
you never met in person
so much.
But it's not any less true.
Love to you, Rich.
I can relate Chrissi, the first time I read something he wrote I was hooked, long before I ever knew his face or heard his voice.
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I can relate Chrissi, the first time I read something he wrote I was hooked, long before I ever knew his face or heard his voice.
Me too. :-*
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Hiya Big Brother.
Your name came up twice this past weekend. First time was on Friday, I was in NYC having dinner dinner with Larry (OregonDoggie) and John (BayCityJohn) who were passing through town. Larry was talking about meeting you in San Fran.
On Saturday I was with a group of friends at a BBQ and one of the people there had recently lost her mother, and that started everyone talking about losing those we love, and one of them mentioned seeing me memorialize you on Facebook, so I told your story.
I hope you know how you affected the lives of those around you, and I hope you know how much you are missed. I think of you almost every day, your pic is up in my cube a few times.
Hope you're looking down on us, and laughing at our continued adventures.
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What sweet sentiments, (((Chuck))).
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Hiya Big Brother.
Your name came up twice this past weekend. First time was on Friday, I was in NYC having dinner dinner with Larry (OregonDoggie) and John (BayCityJohn) who were passing through town. Larry was talking about meeting you in San Fran.
On Saturday I was with a group of friends at a BBQ and one of the people there had recently lost her mother, and that started everyone talking about losing those we love, and one of them mentioned seeing me memorialize you on Facebook, so I told your story.
I hope you know how you affected the lives of those around you, and I hope you know how much you are missed. I think of you almost every day, your pic is up in my cube a few times.
Hope you're looking down on us, and laughing at our continued adventures.
That's really nice, Chuck. :-*
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That is really nice Chuck *Hugs*
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I just found this on Facebook, posted to one of my friend's wall. I think it fits here, even after this time.
"When A Friend Bids Goodbye"
My dear friends,
close your eyes...
hold my hand,
and hear me whisper...
For the times I was lost,
you were there to look for me.
Will you believe me when I say I love you more than you'll ever know.
Will you trust me when I say ...this time you have to let me go.
My dear friends, I must leave.
The world no longer needs me.
It's my time to be gone, until we meet again someday.
Don't you cry now, I know I'll be okay.
Trust that I'll never forget you.
Don't be sad now, just close your eyes until it's through.
Hold my hand, don't open your eyes yet...
wait when I no longer whisper..
My dear friends, you'll be fine.
I'll be up there watching over you.
For the times I'll be gone, don't ever forget
the words I whispered to you.
God calls on my name... and I have to let go of your hand now...
Please don't cry... and smile for me..
because I'm with the one who made us friends.
Remember, I'll always love you.
so come, wave me goodbye...
It'll be painful but we have to...
Hug me, hug me tight, feel the words I can no longer say.
My dear friends, I'm going to miss you.
just pray because I'll always listen.
and one day, when it's your time,
I'll be there for you...
Just like the way I used to.
...I love you...
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"because I'm with the one who made us friends" -- wow, just beautiful!!!
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Hiya Big Brother.
Just wanted to know that your name came up at the AIDS Walk, the "Pizza-Q" at Lisa's house.
I'm not even sure how it happened. :laugh: I was talking with Sue, and she and I were talking about different things, and Jackie's name came up, and your name came up, and I got all emotional.
I could just picture you looking down and going "Again little bro? Again?"
:laugh:
Miss you, bro.
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I can just picture him and Jacki together smiling down on you, and all the Brokies. Our lives are so enriched by knowing them.
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That time is rolling around again.
Love you, miss you, wishing so much you were still with us. I hope you are looking down on us, smiling. Holding a protective hand above your daughter and Gene and all your loved ones. Just hoping.
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Yes, Chrissi you are so right, I have been thinking about the anniversary of his passing more and more as it approaches. Summer is always such a busy time at work and so many things are flying about me, but I feel like he is standing there, amidst the noise and haste, like the first time I saw him at gate T3 at the Atlanta Airport, waiting with a smile.
I will wear the shirt he gave me that day, because shirts are part of our practice. ;D. Bless Bizzy and Gene, and the now Men who are his sons, bless the family of his birth, all of them, bless all who loved him. That's a lot of people.
Things will never be the same, but they are better. Better because Richard Wilson lived in this world.
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S5V-Y53ad4[/youtube]
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Can't tell y'all how many times I've shot myself in the foot over these last two years, for never having met this wonderful man in person. :'(
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Beautiful, Truman.
Speaking of shirts, I gave Rich this shirt at Don Wroe 2:
(http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q186/southendmd/don%20wroe%202/donwroe2richpaul.jpg)
Miss you, little brother.
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It would be lovely to know how Bizzie is getting on..
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Hi Everyone,
A friend told me I should log on to see the posts about Richard (Rich as you know him :) ). I haven't been on here in over a year but I did want to update you on Elizabeth/Bizzy since many of you have met her or know about her through her dad. She is doing great-she is a very strong girl. She is growing up to be a beautiful little girl. She always was but she gets more beautiful every day. She is now 14 and is getting ready to start high school in a week. It's hard to beleive this little premature baby is starting high school but it's true. She misses her dad so much it hurts. We both do! We talk about him every day, we look at pictures or watch our home videos where he talks ALL the way through them. It used to drive us crazy but now I know there was a reason. We will always be able to hear his voice and she can hear him talking to her.
She stays in contact with Gene's sons/her brothers. They all live in Texas now but she gets to talk to them whenever she wants.
She is in to boys now - something her dad would hate! And as you can see, she doesn't have to try hard to be noticed. :)
I hope you are all doing well-
Marcia
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Lovely, Marcia. Thank you for stopping by and sharing some of your thoughts during this difficult time of remembrance.
Prayers and hugs,
A Friend
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You are missed every day my dear sweet adoptive son. I think of you often, and when I do I both smile, and sigh. I am
sitting here, trying to stay dry eyed. Love you all the time, forever.
Wonder all the time how your precious daughter is doing after you are no longer around to give your sweet love and guidence to her.
Thank you so much Marcia, for giving us the picture of your beautiful daughter. She has truly turned out to be a stunner. But then we knew that she would. As for her and boys..well its a part of growing up. I know that it is a normal thing. It is just better when they are not easily buffaloed by guys who wish to do a lot of smoke blowing.. From what I have always heard about her, and the ability to speak to the boys, that should keep her feet on the ground. Good to hear also, that she is still in contact with her brothers. At least she didn't lose them..
I hope you are doing well also. I know it is very hard, to lose someone you are so dearly connected to. I hope you can get passed this horrible thing, in time. I know you are a strong and self reliant person, and will indeed blossom.
All my best to you both. (Mama) Janice
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Thank you, Marcia, for the kind update.
Elizabeth sure is a stunner. Beautiful inside and out. Rich would be so proud!
So glad she stays in touch with her brothers.
Best to you,
Paul
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Thank you, Marcia, for giving us an update on Bizzy. What a beautiful young woman she has become. I'm glad to hear she's doing well and still in touch with her brothers.
Starting high school - what an exciting new experience. May she thrive in it, all my best wishes are with her.
I keep you both, and all people whose lives were touched by Rich's, in my thoughts on this day.
Chrissi
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Yes, Chrissi you are so right, I have been thinking about the anniversary of his passing more and more as it approaches. Summer is always such a busy time at work and so many things are flying about me, but I feel like he is standing there, amidst the noise and haste, like the first time I saw him at gate T3 at the Atlanta Airport, waiting with a smile.
I will wear the shirt he gave me that day, because shirts are part of our practice. ;D. Bless Bizzy and Gene, and the now Men who are his sons, bless the family of his birth, all of them, bless all who loved him. That's a lot of people.
Things will never be the same, but they are better. Better because Richard Wilson lived in this world.
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S5V-Y53ad4[/youtube]
:) Smiling because you're right. We we all blessed to have known Rich, no matter to what degree.
:'( Fighting down a lump in my throat at the same time, thinking about a life cut much, much too short.
:-* Sending love to you.
(((Tru)))
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(http://www.candleloversdream.com/2-cornercandles.jpg)
Candles for you today, big brother. I'm also wearing a black armband for the remainder of the week.
With all the people in this world who shouldn't be here, I can't understand why you had to go.
There is a poem that starts with this line: People always come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.
You came to us for a reason, your physical time with us was a season, but the impressions you made will stay with us for a lifetime.
Marcia, thanks for the picture of Bizzy. She's turning into a beautiful young woman. It also made me laugh because it made me think about how if Rich were here, he'd be on the phone with me swearing about the boys now, and how he would need to get a bat or shot gun. :laugh:
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You came to us for a reason, your physical time with us was a season, but the impressions you made will stay with us for a lifetime.
Beautiful, caring thoughts, Chuck.
I didn't realize till last night that I'm the only Brokie that Biz friended on FB. All this time, I was under the mistaken impression you all on FB could see all the beautiful photos of her over the years, growing up and goofing off and becoming a stunning young lady. I've asked Marcia to post some more over here, as I don't know how to do that technological stuff, plus I want her to make sure it's okay with Biz first, of course. Hopefully, we'll see some more pics soon. I'm sure Rich is smiling down and beaming with pride at his glorious girl.
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I am also her friend on FB.
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It's a sad day, but I am so lucky to have had Rich in my life for as long as I did. Without Brokeback, our paths would never have crossed, which is something not worth contemplating, really. We miss you, always will.
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEX9amtpeis[/youtube]
Mandy - thank you for reaching out to Marcia.
Marcia - thank you for updating us on Bizzy and posting the photo. She is a beautiful young woman, and I am sure she will face the high school years as she has every other challenge - much grace and poise and maturity there.
Love,
Lynne
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Thinking of you today, Rich, and the lovely daughter who carries on without you. Rest peacefully, friend. :-*
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On fb this friend of mine from high school posted an event for today called "Letting Go Day" and I was like Hell No.
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WuTNRoJMGU[/youtube]
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[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKlqthcBUQ0[/youtube]
"Abide with Me." For Rich, because he believed.
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On fb this friend of mine from high school posted an event for today called "Letting Go Day" and I was like Hell No.
Good answer. Never let go of the people you love.
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"Abide with Me." For Rich, because he believed.
Perfect choice, Paul. Yes, Rich believed, and he had that elusive thing people call faith.
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How I wish I had known Rich.
As it is, I only know him through his friends, and your heartfelt and beautiful tributes to him.
He must have been a truly wonderful man, to make such a difference in so many people's lives.
(((Rich's friends and family)))
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On fb this friend of mine from high school posted an event for today called "Letting Go Day" and I was like Hell No.
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WuTNRoJMGU[/youtube]
hold on to love we make and the love we take
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I believe Rich checked in with me tonight here in Boston. Dinner was very Southern - a yellow squash and tomato fry with corn-on-the-cob. And I was on dish crew with a wonderful man from Georgia. I had told him (Mykal) about Rich earlier today, and we decided in the Friends' House world of tofu and tempeh, this was likely not a coincidence.
:)
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Amen, friend. I am dealing with some difficult personal challenges right now, and just thinking of friend lonelyleeB is calming and an inspiration.
-
Thinking of Rich...
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(((Eric))) (((Lee)))
It has been a hard couple of days with all of the remembering. There were some tears this morning, but I was at Starbucks and interrupted by someone who doesn't really know and wouldn't really get it if she did, and I've had a big knot in my stomach ever since. I started to tell her about him, but she didn't seem interested, so I just mentally skipped it.
:-\ :'(
He loved his friends.
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(((Eric))) (((Lee)))
It has been a hard couple of days with all of the remembering. There were some tears this morning, but I was at Starbucks and interrupted by someone who doesn't really know and wouldn't really get it if she did, and I've had a big knot in my stomach ever since. I started to tell her about him, but she didn't seem interested, so I just mentally skipped it.
:-\ :'(
He loved his friends.
How does anyone not get it? You lost a friend and yesterday was the anniversary. It's not difficult to understand this is reason for remembering, bitter-sweet feelings and some tears.
I'm sorry she didn't want to know. Maybe she had her own reasons, or maybe she just had a dumb day.
(((Lynne))) :-*
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(http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss192/Penthesilea09/Brokies-001_zps8c994996.jpg)
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That's an awesome collage, Chrissi. Thank you. :-*
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Hope Truman doesn't mind my pulling this over from his Shakestheground Rumblings' blog. It is just a snippet of a beautifully-written account of some Brokies' recent stay in a cabin in Tennessee:
Mandy treated me to a true gift, she brought out a copy of the slide show from our friend Rich's memorial service two years ago. It was such a blessing being able to see those pictures again of his smiling face, see them now without grief or sadness, but with an appreciation I had the eyes to see it, and the ability to tell her: "That dog there, his name was Jack from Tennessee!"
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With many thanks to BayCityJohn for bringing this to my attention,
Happy Birthday Rich!
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxI3O9j7F7s[/youtube]
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One of the great things about Rich is that you could know him and be his friend without even meeting him. When I finally met him in September of 2007 it was like we had known each other forever so actually meeting was not even an event. I could always count on him to write an encouraging, thoughtful, or complimentary response to even my most silly posts and he was there for me even when the whole rest of the world couldn't care less.
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One of the great things about Rich is that you could know him and be his friend without even meeting him.
Very very true.
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(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g116/CellarDweller115/SF%20Castro%20Bbm/SFCastroBBM070.jpg)
Said goodbye, turned around, And you were gone, gone, gone
Faded into the setting sun, Slipped away, But I won’t cry
Cause I know I’ll never be lonely, For you are the stars to me, You are the light I follow
I will see you again, whoa - This is not where it ends
I will carry you with me, oh - 'Til I see you again
I can hear those echoes in the wind at night
Calling me back in time, Back to you, In a place far away
Where the water meets the sky, The thought of it makes me smile, You are my tomorrow
I will see you again, whoa - This is not where it ends
I will carry you with me, oh -'Til I see you again
Sometimes I feel my heart is breaking
But I stay strong and I hold on cause I know
I will see you again, whoa - This is not where it ends
I will carry you with me, yeah, yeah
I will see you again, whoa - This is not where it ends
I will carry you with me, oh - 'Til I see you again.
'Til I see you again,
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
'Til I see you again, whoa
'Til I see you again,
Said goodbye turned around
And you were gone, gone, gone.
-
:-\
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHXDjntK1Ms[/youtube]
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To his closest friends and family, I know that time is not the great healer that people say it is........it is merely a reminder of how long we have been without him....
As the song says......separated by time, not distance.
No matter what we believe, we can only hope, that to his arms one day, you will return to stay.....
A friend to so many.......rest in peace dear Rich....
-
(http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss192/Penthesilea09/Nach%20Neugestaltung%20der%20Website/CIMG1250-001_zps8941de79.jpg) (http://s575.photobucket.com/user/Penthesilea09/media/Nach%20Neugestaltung%20der%20Website/CIMG1250-001_zps8941de79.jpg.html)
Sunrise in Greece, July 2010
I had written a postcard to Rich from that holiday. The day before the accident he PMed me, thanking me for the card, saying maybe he'll see Greece one day....
I keep that PM on FB, and saved it on my harddrive, just in case.
This year, again in July, I was in Turkey and the little corner we stayed at reminded me of Greece sometimes. The last days of our vacation I thought of the upcoming anniversary.
I miss you, Rich.
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It doesn't seem possible that its three years. We miss you Rich.
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I'll never forget Rich. I'm so glad I met him in person and even more unforgettable were the many posts and pictures and thoughts about Brokeback Mountain we shared. He helped me understand the movie better and the experience of being true to yourself. He was one of the most courageous people I ever knew. Thanks for the banner photo. A toss of the mane to you, Rich!
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I've just been sitting here looking at the photo or Rich on the front page...looking at that handsome young man, so young, with a future in front of him, happy there beside his horse, unaware that we would be looking at that photo after he was gone.
I thought of his daughter, his partner Gene, his parents, his siblings, and I thought about all of his friends, particularly the ones he met through here. Some he met in real life and formed life long friendships and the promise of meeting up again as soon as they could....I feel their sadness, of not being able to meet up again, but I envy them their memories of when they did. Then there were the friends that never got to meet him in "real life", those of us that may have occassionally posted on his blog, replied to something he may have written, some who got very close by more contact on here with him than others, and some who like me, had just read his story.
No matter how much or how little he touched our lives, his loss is still felt, whether we knew him or not, we still miss him, and today is a reminder of how much we do miss him, and miss that there was not more to his story, miss that there is not a more recent photo of him, just miss that he isn't still here with us.
Anyone reading this, knows what I mean. Everyone misses him, for all different reasons, their own stories about him, which bring a smile which can easily turn into a tear.....While ever we feel like that, he will always be part of us.
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[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvyhC01sWso[/youtube]
"He's Gone Away", Pat Metheny and Charlie Haden.
Miss you, little brother.
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He was a good guy!
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Hi Everyone,
Yesterday was three years without Richard. Elizabeth and I went to dinner with Mimi and Richard's sister Kriste. We smiled and told Richard stories....as you all know, there are A LOT of them. We smile each day knowing he is at peace and in a better place. There will always be a whole in our hearts though. I have spent years laughing a things he did and crying over things I did - believe me, there is such a thing as survivors guilt. I still have a text message Richard sent me in April of 2010 saying that he loved me and what great friends we became again. I have read that so many times to remind me that things were good - even if we were fighting - they were good. There was still love for each other-just a different kind.
Elizabeth starts 10th grade next week. She also has her learners permit (if you live close to Atlanta.....be careful!) She drives in the neighborhood or some of the side streets but not on larger/more congested roads. I am going to sign her up for private driving lessons. I'm not sure my nerves can handle driving on busy roads. I think I already have a hole in my passenger floor. She isn't "dating" anyone right now. Dating in our world is hanging around each other. Much to her disliking, I think 15 is too young for a car date.
Our lives have calmed back down in the past year. Elizabeth is still in contact with her "brothers" and has seen them many times in the past year. We even spent time together at Christmas. She will always have a bond with them! She is an amazing girl. Not only is she beautiful, but she has a very sweet loving heart. She also have her dads quick wit - she comes up with some funny one liners.
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As you can tell, I am not good at doing this - some of my message isn't on the last post.
I think I was still bragging about Elizabeth :)
We still talk about Richard daily - we miss him but know he is watching over us. His best friend Stephen came to visit us this summer and we had such a good time - lots of laughs. He is keeping in touch with Elizabeth which is something Richard would have loved. She is reminded all the time how much her daddy loved her. She is a lot like him-
Anyway, its late but I wanted to take some time to update you on Elizabeth.
Thank you-
Marcia
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Thank you, Marcia, for your updates, and for the photo. They are very important to us.
I'm glad you and Elizabeth are doing well. There is so much of Richard, and you, in her. She was truly the light of his life.
He is obviously a big part of this community, and we miss him as well.
I know he would be very proud.
Paul
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Oh, she is so beautiful.........and how wonderful for Marcia to contact us.
I am sure with a mum like her, she is going to be a happy well adjusted adult, with lovely memories of her Daddy.
How lucky she is to be loved by so many.
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Thank you Marcia, for your words and the update on Elisabeth. I had hoped you would check in with us. Thank you so much for doing so.
The photo - oh my gosh! Everything child-like is completely gone and she's really a young woman now. And a beautiful one at that. I wouldn't have recognized her, knowing her from earlier photos only.
I'm glad to hear she's doing well, and in contact with Gene's sons and Rich's friend. Already having a learner's permit - wow, that is something I can hardly imagine coming from a country where you can't drive at such a young age.
I'm sad and happy to see what a difference three years make. Happy because I know how proud Rich would be, happy to learn she's doing fine. But also sad because I can't believe it's already three years that Rich is gone. He should have shared those years and many more with her and with all his family. :'(
Like Paul already said, our community also misses Rich dearly and he's still part of us.
Wishing Elisabeth and you all the best!
Chrissi
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Wow!
Marcia, Bizzy's beautiful. Rich would be so proud! There wasn't a conversation that would happen between he and I where he didn't mention her in some way.
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Thanks for taking the time to do this, Marcia. Told ya folks would be pleased to see Bizzy again. Take care, good friend.
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Marcia,
Thanks so much for the update.
Bizzy has turned into such a gorgeous young woman. Richard would indeed be very very proud.
And he would agree with you about the 'car date' I am a 100% sure!
I'm glad Bizzy is keeping in touch with her 'Brothers' and her Dad's old friends.
Kelda x
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I've just been sitting here looking at the photo or Rich on the front page...looking at that handsome young man, so young, with a future in front of him, happy there beside his horse, unaware that we would be looking at that photo after he was gone.
I thought of his daughter, his partner Gene, his parents, his siblings, and I thought about all of his friends, particularly the ones he met through here. Some he met in real life and formed life long friendships and the promise of meeting up again as soon as they could....I feel their sadness, of not being able to meet up again, but I envy them their memories of when they did. Then there were the friends that never got to meet him in "real life", those of us that may have occassionally posted on his blog, replied to something he may have written, some who got very close by more contact on here with him than others, and some who like me, had just read his story.
No matter how much or how little he touched our lives, his loss is still felt, whether we knew him or not, we still miss him, and today is a reminder of how much we do miss him, and miss that there was not more to his story, miss that there is not a more recent photo of him, just miss that he isn't still here with us.
Anyone reading this, knows what I mean. Everyone misses him, for all different reasons, their own stories about him, which bring a smile which can easily turn into a tear.....While ever we feel like that, he will always be part of us.
You said it so well, Sue, thank you. And thank you, Marcia, for the update and the lovely picture. :-*
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It's Rich's birthday again.
I was browsing through some old PMs from '08 and '09, looking for something specific, and ended up finding many messages from Rich. Made me happy, but also made me miss him something wicked.
(http://divshare.com//img/display/5671195-f80)
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(http://divshare.com//img/display/5671183-ed3)
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It's Rich's birthday again.
I was browsing through some old PMs from '08 and '09, looking for something specific, and ended up finding many messages from Rich. Made me happy, but also made me miss him something wicked.
(http://divshare.com//img/display/5671195-f80)
I don't know if I've seen this photo before. It's so beautiful and heartwarming to see the four of you together. :)
Saved it to my harddrive. Thanks for sharing, Paul.
(((Paul)))
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Happy Birthday, Rich. We continue to miss you...
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It's Rich's birthday again.
I was browsing through some old PMs from '08 and '09, looking for something specific, and ended up finding many messages from Rich. Made me happy, but also made me miss him something wicked.
(http://divshare.com//img/display/5671195-f80)
(((Paul)))
What an absolutely wonderful photo of four brothers!
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I don't remember seeing this one before! Thanks!
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What a beautiful photo of friendship, love and brotherhood......it all shows on the four of you.....xxxx
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I don't remember seeing this one before! Thanks!
It's from an ancient cache of Lynne's photos in divshare.
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I still have the hankie I promised to give Rich if he ever came to Wyoming. It's right there in my profile picture. :'(
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Texted briefly with Marcia yesterday morn. Mimi was coming up to join she and Elizabeth for a small birthday celebration in Rich's honor. They are doing well.
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Hi Everyone,
I wanted to come by to say "HAPPY 47th BIRTHDAY RICHARD!!"
Mandy sent me a note to look at some of the pictures since she thought they were new and we would like to see them.
Mimi came up yesterday (she is still here) to celebrate Richards birthday. We had a beer for Richard and as you can see, Elizabeth had the real birthday treat!
She is doing great but misses her dad every day.
Thanks Mandy for remembering us in the celebration!
Marcia
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It doesn't seem possible that its been over three years since Rich passed. He was a good man, and the fact we are still talking about him here is testament to that.
We love you Rich. x
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:-*[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j8mr-gcgoI[/youtube]
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Missing you, big Brother.
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=BBM
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The morning of his accident, he posted that this song was on his mind.
It was the last I heard from him.
Today, he is on my mind. Everyday, he is close by.
[youtube=425,350]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th74yvYvCr4[/youtube]
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Thank you, friend. I'm thankful that, for at least a brief time, the Maker made a happy man of him.
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The days before the anniversary you are always heavily on my mind, Rich. I think of you at other times, too, but the anniversary still makes me sad. I miss you, we all miss you, and you will always be a part of our community.
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[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTnWFT3DvVA[/youtube]
For you, and all the Brokies who we lost
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Missing you my twin
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An unbelievably beautiful young lady, summer 2015. Thanks to her mama Marcia Wilson for letting me share this with y'all.
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Aw, thank you Mandy. I can see Rich in her face. :'( :)
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She's very beautiful. Rich would be so proud.
Thank you for sharing, Mandy, and to Marcia for letting her share.
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wow, she's quite the young lady now. Rich would be on guard with the young guys that would want to date her.
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Elizabeth (Bizzy) Wilson at her high school graduation, and the present I got her that hopefully will remind her of her daddy thanks to the sunflowers:
http://www.evine.com/Product/718-005?cm_re=OrderHistory-_-Offer-_-N&track=-80400
in Floral Bouquet
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What a great picture and a wonderful young lady. I can see by the light in her eyes that she has inherited much from her father. Thank you, Mandy, for posting this and for staying in touch with her. We smile in joy through our tears.
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Hi Everyone,
I know Mandy posted a picture of Elizabeth in her cap and gown but I wanted to share her senior picture with you. She has grown into (and has always been) a beautiful girl. She has a heart of gold!! I am beyond proud of her and I know her dad is too. She is everything we prayed for when we had our baby...and more. Words can't describe the love I have for her!
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Thinking of Rich today and how he enriched our lives. :'(
Mandy, I was thrilled to see the bag you gave Bizzy, which has a bluebird of happiness on it! Here's to whiskey springs and bluebird songs!!
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missing you Rich
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Thinking of you, Rich.
♥
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Thinking of Rich today and how he enriched our lives. :'(
Mandy, I was thrilled to see the bag you gave Bizzy, which has a bluebird of happiness on it! Here's to whiskey springs and bluebird songs!!
When I saw it, it screamed Rich's memory being passed on. The other side was a sunflower, and I sent sunflower seeds along in the pockets. Best I could do.
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Thinking of you on your bday, Rich. Hope you are smiling down on us all.
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Thinking of you today, Rich.
I try to remember you with smiles. Sometimes it's hard, but I try.
(http://www.quotes4smile.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/remember-me-with-smiles.jpg)
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Thinking of Rich and his perpetual smile.
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(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g116/CellarDweller115/Georgia%20Trip/Georgiatrip001.jpg)
Thinking of you with smiles today, Rich! :)
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Thinking of you today Rich and all the people whom you touched with a kind word, a smile, a message
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Here is the Christmas card Rich sent me, which I will always treasure.
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One of the mutual friends Rich and I had on FB says he still has Rich's number in his phone, he couldn't bring himself to delete it.
I admit, I did delete his number. I didn't want to see it in my phone.
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For months now, I kept the seed in my head, head full of a sorts of life's shits and other detritus. Today is his birthday. I will bring it to the light.
It was back in June of this year. I made the trip to Christiansburg, Virginia, his birthplace. We had spent the day there Valentines Weekend 2008 with my step son and his then girlfriend and I had seen all those places from his early life. The building that had been the hospital where he was born, the wall he walked on with his grandfather holding his had, the place where "the shack" had been where he and his mother stayed warm by a coal burning stove. Those places come back to me each time I visit. I acknowledge each of them as I pass, recall the ones too far away I may never see again. This is where Richard Wilson was, where he walked, where for a time, he lived.
The purpose of the trip was Dewey, the English Mastiff child of the step son and his now wife. Dewey was 7, and he was dying. A cancer that was spreading over his body, robbing him of his energy, yet he still remained happy and glad to see people come to visit him.
Turning at the former Baptist Church that is now an event center, the one that would not allow Rich to attend Vacation Bible School because he was born out of wedlock, up Hickok Street, just past the house where his baby sitter had lived, to Dewey's house. If the road had continued it would have come out where his grandparents lay buried. It was a nice summer day and the poor boy used up his energy jumping up on the fence to get closer. He licked me on the face when presented with a rawhide bone.
There we spent the afternoon in idle conversation. Taking pictures and videos, saying good by to the gentle giant. The one who would run to see people he had never seen before and scare them to death. Giving thanks for all things, remembering and committing new ones.
The time came to go, and I was was already beginning to feel sick with what, two days later, would turn out to be Lyme Disease. Headed back down route 8, past the faded folk art mural on the old garage of the rapture, I recalled how amazed he was 10 years earlier it was still visible. Past the the off ramp of I-81 that his grandmother had mistook for an on ramp, leading to disaster. Saying good bye and letting go one more time, and then suddenly there on the right it was.
A field, bathed in the late afternoon sun. A field full of sheep. My head turned and eyes beheld them as long as I could.
No reins, not, not ever.
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What precious memories, friend. Smiling through tears.
And I just passed through Christiansburg a couple of weeks ago, on our way to Pigeon Forge. Ironic and hypocritical name, if they wouldn't accept Rich into vacation bible school. >:(
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"Remember me with smiles and laughter,
for that is how I will remember you all.
If you can only remember me with tears,
then don't remember me at all."
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Beautiful story, Truman. :'(
I'm angry even now about the vacation Bible school not letting him in. I wonder if that's a common policy elsewhere.
I never knew Rich, but always have wished I had.
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Remembering you with smiles, Rich!
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Thinking of Rich today. Nine years, damn.
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I know. I can't believe it's been so long.
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(https://scontent.fewr1-5.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22894167_10155699840247348_702777776197838483_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_oc=AQnFIvJLINbTPPL-4X6H4UIbzDYZRwYNClLYUhcgu_mJIyxtVLyzX9Y8AsWseNr6ltc&_nc_ht=scontent.fewr1-5.fna&oh=14bdd14279a4c48270c7e1b4bd836d79&oe=5E4FDAB2)
Remembering you on your birthday, Rich.
Thinking of you, smiling, and sending love and good vibes to your family.
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11 years today. Just spending some time remembering time spent with Rich, laughing and having fun.
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(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g116/CellarDweller115/Georgia%20Trip/Georgiatrip001.jpg)
Remembering Rich with smiles on his birthday.
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Rich and smiles are synonymous. Tears too. :-*
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Rich came to me in a dream last night.
We were outside my parents' home, at the next-door neighbors, they have a small cinderblock wall, and we were sitting on it, and talking. He was in a dark brown suit, shirt and tie. I don't think I've ever seen him dress like that.
We were just leaning on each other, talking, and I woke up feeling happy.
Thanks, Rich!
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What a blessing. I bet he looked great in that suit.
My father used to wear a brown suit occasionally. The only other person I knew who wore brown was Ronald Reagan. My dad used to fly on Braniff, whose color was brown. The flight attendants looked like Brownies.
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Hello Rich,
Remembering and celebrating you today.
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g116/CellarDweller115/SF%20Castro%20Bbm/SFCastroBBM070.jpg)
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That was so Rich. Always hugging. Was that a dozy embrace??
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That was so Rich. Always hugging. Was that a dozy embrace??
I would say yes, it was.
I've told the story before, but a day before that pic, I managed to blow my knee out at one of the dances after the rodeo. I was wearing brace under the jeans, and Rich was leaning on me. My face doesn't betray it, but I was worried we were gonna fall over. :laugh: