Good lord, today was weird. Last night, I found out that an old friend of mine (whom I'd unfortunately lost contact with, as had almost all of his friends in NYC, when he moved upstate suddenly) passed away. Here's a picture of us, about 6 years ago- this was before I gained weight and I was a cute little blond thing :-P
I was working for a promoter at the time, which is how I met "Nick." Why the quotes? Well, as the four of us from the music scene side of his life learned today, that wasn't his name at all. I knew him as a shaman of sorts- he was an INCREDIBLE performer, and he had this pre-show ritual where he'd lay out an animal hide of some sort, with assorted oddities on top- animal bones, feathers, incense, tarot cards, and dice (which I'd often blow on before he rolled them out, for luck). He captivated people, left them completely spellbound by the end of his performances. And he was SO AUTHENTIC in his persona, his wild man, mystic shaman persona, that I could think of him no other way. Sometimes he'd rescue me from the chaos and bullshit that inevitably comes with working in the music scene, and we'd go to a quiet bar or get something to eat together, getting to wherever we were going in his 1985 pickup truck. He was a truly rare gem in a sea of people trying to stand on each other.
So imagine my shock today- the four of us who knew him as this man, standing outside the funeral home, passing a flask around in his honor- when I- we all, really- learn that not only was his name completely different, but we only knew half the man! He wasn't entirely a wild man loner, as I had imagined. He had a whole bunch of family, most of whom he wasn't in touch with anymore either, and while we had no idea that he played hockey, was a celebrated architect, etc- imagine his family's surprise when they found out he was in a band, and what a band!
Seeing his picture up there is really tearing at me right now. Apparently he died of a heart defect that he was born with. I know there's no such thing as gone too soon- you go when you're supposed to go, otherwise you wouldn't go- but I wish I could give him one last hug and kiss and tell him how much I appreciate him and love him. Even though I only knew half of him, I was so fortunate to have met even just that half.
Wherever you are Nick (because that's how I know you best), please know you are loved and missed. Be at peace- though I suspect you are, because you were never entirely of this world as far as I'm concerned. You will always have a place in my heart <3
I was working for a promoter at the time, which is how I met "Nick." Why the quotes? Well, as the four of us from the music scene side of his life learned today, that wasn't his name at all. I knew him as a shaman of sorts- he was an INCREDIBLE performer, and he had this pre-show ritual where he'd lay out an animal hide of some sort, with assorted oddities on top- animal bones, feathers, incense, tarot cards, and dice (which I'd often blow on before he rolled them out, for luck). He captivated people, left them completely spellbound by the end of his performances. And he was SO AUTHENTIC in his persona, his wild man, mystic shaman persona, that I could think of him no other way. Sometimes he'd rescue me from the chaos and bullshit that inevitably comes with working in the music scene, and we'd go to a quiet bar or get something to eat together, getting to wherever we were going in his 1985 pickup truck. He was a truly rare gem in a sea of people trying to stand on each other.
So imagine my shock today- the four of us who knew him as this man, standing outside the funeral home, passing a flask around in his honor- when I- we all, really- learn that not only was his name completely different, but we only knew half the man! He wasn't entirely a wild man loner, as I had imagined. He had a whole bunch of family, most of whom he wasn't in touch with anymore either, and while we had no idea that he played hockey, was a celebrated architect, etc- imagine his family's surprise when they found out he was in a band, and what a band!
Seeing his picture up there is really tearing at me right now. Apparently he died of a heart defect that he was born with. I know there's no such thing as gone too soon- you go when you're supposed to go, otherwise you wouldn't go- but I wish I could give him one last hug and kiss and tell him how much I appreciate him and love him. Even though I only knew half of him, I was so fortunate to have met even just that half.
Wherever you are Nick (because that's how I know you best), please know you are loved and missed. Be at peace- though I suspect you are, because you were never entirely of this world as far as I'm concerned. You will always have a place in my heart <3
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