The Erik Project

happy birthday e, from sean

2012-01-01T10:17:00.000-08:00

Andree here. It's a new year, a new time for hopes and plans. We look forward to the friends we'll meet and the fresh things we'll see and do. And we look back at the friends we miss, feeling sad and happy, rueing the lost days, but grateful to have the memories. It's those memories that teach us what and how to love, and how to get better at friendship as the days and years go by.

So you know who I'm thinking about today. I know you are too. Memories of E: of generosity, excitement, curiosity, kindness.

But brother Sean will tell you this better than I can. So I turn it over to him. . .

* * *Dear Erik, Well brother, you would have been 46 years old today.Just another age milestone in life..of course, you never cared about that. I hope that this note finds you well on the other side. I am sure that you are looking down on us, wondering what all the fuss is about. Someday, we will all be together. Meantime, I am doing the best I can do to make my mark on this world. Leave some kind of legacy..like you did. Whether I do or not, is not important. What is important is that I live the way you did...with integrity. Thanks for leaving us with that example. I have a very good friend that joined you this week. Please watch out for her, show her the way.Happy birthday, my brother..I miss you. Your Big Brother, Sean

go erik go!

2011-11-05T09:41:00.000-07:00

Sean sent this photo, originally from Bruce Beck. Photoshopped, but admit it - you had to think about that for a minute, didn't you?
Remember how fast we all went with Erik behind us? Well, don't slow down now: He still is. These are tough, tough days for most of us lately. We miss Erik, and nothing seems to be going right, and why in hell do we bother to fight the power when we can't even keep the power on?
Hold it.
We do have the power, because we have each other and Erik gave us that.
We do have the power, because when Erik went to the next level he left knowing what it was really all about, and he told us.
We do have the power, and Erik keeps finding ways to remind us that it'll all be good in the end.

We do have the power, because Erik put us all together as the the power for each other. He knew what he was doing, so don't secondguess him now. Let's go!

and lyric is lyrical

2011-07-17T15:54:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) Lyric wrote the following poem this past June, and told Mom it was okay to post here. There is a certain sense of peace I gain from it, a thought of Erik watching over the place, as those who have beat us to the beyond are often said to do.
* * *
FOREVER

At night when sleep draws near
I hear many sounds all around

The wind, the rats, and possibly bats
But other than that I hear
My Dad walking through the house,
Almost as silent as a mouse

For when he died here on this day
His ghost would never go away

Lyric Anwyn Purdom, 6/2011

a poem from terry

2011-07-09T10:08:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) Hi everyone. Dad wrote this poem just recently for Erik and wants to share it with you all. I guarantee it will make you cry, but don't be afraid of that, because you'll also feel hopeful and happy at the same time.
* * *
OUT PAST THE SUN

Where have you gone my blue eyed son
Well dad I’ve gone off to have me some fun
Gone off to heaven so far away
Don’t worry dear father I’ll see you some day

So where have you gone to my blue eyed son
Well mom I’ve gone off to have me some fun
Gone to see ancestors far far away
But don’t worry mother I’ll see you some day

And where have you gone our blue eyed one
Well my dear family gone off to have fun
Gone to the planets so far far away
But don’t worry my sweethearts I’ll see you some day

But where have you gone our blue eyed one
Brothers and sisters I’m off to have fun
Off to the galaxies far and away
But don’t you all worry I’ll see you some day

So where are you taking us blue eyed son
Well mom and dad way out past the sun
Were going to places far far away
To show you the wonders I’ve seen every day

I’m so glad you’re with me now out here today

the emperor jaeger

2011-06-19T12:22:00.000-07:00

Jaeger recently got the lead role in the school play of "The Emperor's New Clothes."

I mean, who does THAT look like, am I right?

Yeah. I'm right.

Kind of uncanny. And wonderful.

another spring

2011-04-16T08:08:00.000-07:00

Andree here. Hi, friends. I haven't anything really unusual or fresh to add as I look out into a soggy spring up here in the NW. I had been thinking lately about how subjective time can be: I still think "I have got to tell Erik this," and then have to catch myself. If I'm alone I usually follow up out loud with "Erik! Did you see that?" I don't do it a lot but I do. PS to spammers: Cut it out. Just stop it. You're not even amusing by now.

photos from november buncombe

2010-12-19T09:13:00.001-08:00

Thank Brynn for these. . . and enjoy.

november

2010-11-14T16:56:00.000-08:00

This weekend the fam and whomever could make it (I could not) went up to Buncombe Hollow to dedicate the stones set there. Erik had planned this a long time ago, and now it exists for real. Perhaps photos will be forthcoming.

It feels good to think of that project completed and ready to share.

more thoughts of e

2010-08-26T21:02:00.001-07:00

(Andree here) I promised more of the reflections our friends shared about the 14th. Let me start with Art. . .

* * *

Thank you Andy,
I feel him everyday in everything I do and know as you that we are all blessed to have him in our lives and a part of everything we do.

My best to the entire Family and warm thoughts of Erik to all.

Best regards,
Art

* * *
And Andy Collen adds. . .
* * *
Just so you know... both Amy and I road to the beach and all we could talk about was how much we missed those awesome production fire pit meetings. Never in my life have I ever met anyone that had a true understanding of what Amy and I do and how to help. Erik was a wealth of information and inspiration for us all.

I started making mead with some of his old equipment....as a one time attempt and now I find myself for some unknown reason thinking about what I could do for the next batch. I can't stop.... I know that is not me in there... rather Erik channeling through me. Hee! Hee! With a sparkle in my eye... Every time I go down stairs to the Mead vault I think of Erik and every time I need to sample the batch... I remember those times Erik just could not contain him self to share the latest brew. My latest and newest attempt is a huge batch of Ginger Mead. I feel now that every time I am racking the mead or drinking with some friends... Erik is there with me. This my way of finally accepting the reality the Erik is no longer with us... but to find a thing that I can do that I can share with Erik's spirit makes me enjoy him so much.... All I can say to everyone is come on over and lets have some MEAD! Hee! Hee! Let me know if anyone is having a party.... !

Love you all!

* * *
There is just a bit more to add, but I will save that for its own.

andrew: "my thoughts of e"

2010-08-19T20:32:00.000-07:00

(Andree here again) There were many emails around the 14th of August, bittersweet and grateful and sad, missing E and happy we had him for a while.

Andrew Rotchford started the ball rolling, and I'd like tonight to post one of the threads. There's a couple more, and I promise to post those very soon indeed.

***

ABSENCE.....

I can't believe it's been two years since our good friend left us. We all miss our brother every day, he is in our thoughts and part of our daily conversation, just as if he is still here. It's days like this that remind us that he is in fact...absent. Knowing this, we will always miss our brother, this is a melancholy truth that we will all share for the rest of our days. He defiantly set the bar for all of us, a bar that he challenges all of us to follow and to move forward, exceeding our own perceived limitations and abilities. As long as we keep his amazing zest for life and his uncompromising example of friendship alive in our minds, his drive, humor, philosophy and personal goals will continue on. It's not a cure for the absence we feel, its just a brightly colored sticky band aid that we all wear until we possibly see that big guy again. On that day, I believe as always (per typical selfless Erik) he would be very interested to hear what we have done with our lives. It would be great to tell him once again "Thank you, because of your friendship, confidence, sound advice and by your excellent example we have accomplished things that we would have never thought possible had we not known you. Best of all, we achieved them all with a sense of balance and distinction."

Can you see him smiling? I can...
Andy

RESPONSE FROM DAD:
Well said Andrew, my lad. He is in our thoughts all thru the day and every day.
Thank you...
Terry

ANDREW:
Thanks Terry,

I did however find a weird spell check snafu that I did not notice until later. It changed (He definitely set the bar for all of us) to (He defiantly set the bar for all of us).
Well, I guess in Erik's case, they both work. He was always challenging the status quo, that's what made him so damn cool!!

Maybe Erik was doing a little Ghost Writing helping me with the appropriate syntax. Say hello to Donna and everyone for us.

Talk to you soon,

Andrew

two years

2010-08-13T21:58:00.001-07:00

Hey Erik!

This is from your birthday in 1986. What's it like where you are now? What sort of stuff do you know? You probably have Finnegan back now. I'm sure. Do you have a firepit there?

I wonder what you think when you see us. We're fine, sometimes not exactly fine, you know, all things considered. Still scooting around on the earth's crust wondering what the hell happened. You sent a couple of messages we couldn't ignore; of course you figured out something. Is that you in all those shining bubbles that keep popping up in the photos now? Because those didn't happen before. We're pretty sure they're you. They have smiley faces.

We do the best we can, not knowing what else to do. But that's the terrestrial plane for you, huh? Till we get to where you are, each in turn, we all miss you in our own way. We think of you every day. And it looks a lot like you're thinking of us.

Just imagine, will you try
I can see that you've opened your mind
Silver linings can disappear, but they always shine
It's always a Mystery, not what it seems to be
It's always a Mystery, just like you and me

You KNOW I had to throw in some Dio, buddy.

ode to erik, by dad

2010-03-10T03:52:00.000-08:00

HE LIVED IN A NICE HOUSE
HAD FAMILY BY THE SCORE
HE WAS IN HIS INDUSTRY
A CAPTAIN WHO GAVE MORE

O, WHAT A LUCKY MAN HE WAS
INDEED, WHAT A LUCKY MAN HE WAS

HE WORKED FOR HIS FAMILY
WAS ALWAYS FOR THEM, THERE
HE ANSWERED THEIR FAIR NEEDS
WITH SMILE AND LOVING CARE

O, WHAT A LUCKY MAN HE WAS
INDEED, WHAT A LUCKY MAN HE WAS

HIS FRIENDS, THEY DID LOVE HIM
FOR HIS LOYALTY AND WIT
HIS MOVEMENTS AMONGST THEM
GAVE MEMORIES OF GOOD FIT

O, WHAT A LUCKY MAN HE WAS
INDEED, WHAT A LUCKY MAN HE WAS

AS LIFE MOVED ON WITH HIM
HIS BLESSINGS DID HE COUNT
THE FUTURE, IT DID LOVE HIM
BUT FATE IT WAS IN DOUBT

O, WHAT A LUCKY MAN HE WAS
INDEED, WHAT A LUCKY MAN HE WAS

THE MIRACLE AS HE NAMED IT
CAME TO HIM WITHOUT WAIT
ALL SCIENCE IN THE WORLD
COULD NOT UNDO HIS FATE

O, WHAT A LUCKY MAN HE WAS
INDEED, WHAT A LUCKY MAN HE WAS

SO WITH GRACE AND SUCH COURAGE
DID THIS LAD THEN ABIDE
‘TILL ONE DAY DID HE SMILE
LAID HIS HEAD DOWN AND DIED

BUT O, WHAT A LUCKY MAN HE WAS
INDEED, WHAT A LUCKY MAN HE WAS

dean says

2010-01-31T18:38:00.001-08:00

(Andree here: Got this from Dean a couple days back, and it goes to show if enough people are sensing the same thing, it's hardly our imagination. Here you go.)

The other day I was driving around, thinking to myself. I had been listening to the Coast to Coast am radio show, a popular 4-hour nightly talk show about things other-than-else. Subject matter includes all paranormal news on Bigfoot, UFOs, psi activity, gov't coverups, the pyramids, etc. Erik and I used to love listening to this show while working on projects late into the night.

The guest they had on this night had just written a book about near-death experiences, and as a Ph.D, he was blown away by the descriptions of 'the other side' that folks brought back with them. Not very many had 'traditional' recollections of pearly gates, streets of gold, that kinda stuff... he said in over 10,000 cases he investigated, most had visions of other worldly landscapes, non-traditional architechture and cities, indescribable colors, incredible outdoor views of huge mountain ranges, canyons, and even different colored oceans and one guy was in an area with 2 suns.

This got me thinking again about what several of us have seen/heard/felt from E since last year, he's definitely making him presence known to us still stuck here... but I was trying to imagine the places he's able to explore and all the sights and sounds. Traveling with no limitations or time constraints. A few days later I read Andree's latest post on the Erik blog, with similar ideas and the journey thing... other folks thinking the same things too, out there?

Anyway, I felt the need to write this long-winded set-up today after looking to my left and seeing the Erik Rising printed tribute, hanging on my wall. Inside are Erik's rules of awesomeness:

Value of Time
Success of Perserverance
Dignity of Simplicity
Worth of Character
Power of Kindness
Influence of Example
Obligation of Duty
Wisdom of Economy
Virtue of Practice
Improvement of Talent

As I was thinking of all the cool in the universe stuff Erik is viewing, I saw that if you take the first letters of all these phrases, you can spell:

Wow! V.I.P. Vids!

I'm sure he's getting the grand tour!

Prom 1984

2010-01-14T23:09:00.000-08:00

E and Julie von Holt!

Hans had an interesting observation to make, and I think you would enjoy:

Look at Erik's hands and feet....His hands are beat up looking from working
on stuff and picking at them. Right foot askew. Either nervously supinated
or that typical hard on the the outsides of his shoes Erik stance.

new year's day 2010

2010-01-01T21:12:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone. Andree here.

It's become increasingly difficult for me to do this blog, you've no doubt figured. But today is - I use present tense on purpose - Erik's birthday.

E isn't here where we can handily see him, but he IS present. When we think of him and laugh, or see something excellently cool and weird he would love, or any time at all we think "Oh man, Erik would dig that" -- Erik is digging that.

The other day, weirdest thing, I was by myself on the internet again looking up some arcane thingy or other as I do, and somebody whapped me on the left shoulder in a most familiar way: I am talking to you, heyheyhey, over here.

Just think, where he is now, wherever that is, he understands all kinds of things he always wanted to wrap his head around. As human beings, we have our limitations as we scoot about on the terrestrial plane. To lose those, we lose our limited understanding and the limited machine that housed it. And of course we don't know from different down here, so we are scared; we don't have the tools to read loss as freedom. Not yet. Imagine how much E might like to tell us if we were able to process the information.

I'm not saying "don't be sad." Damn, I'd be the last person to tell you that -- I'm saying, it's like saying bon voyage and being sad you couldn't go on the trip, and then understanding you could so.

If you hadn't known sorrow, you couldn't recognize joy. Expect joy in 2010, my friends. Think of it as practice for jamming with E again.

e and crystal

2009-10-01T06:57:00.001-07:00

(Andree here) Look at this great photo! The pretty young lady here is Crystal Jiang, one of the folks with whom Erik worked in China. He was very fond of Crystal and had great respect for her as a team partner and a person. I should have posted this weeks ago (sorry, Crystal!).

sean got this one

2009-09-09T07:08:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) Brother Sean sent this to me a couple weeks ago. He didn't say who sent it, but it's from Battle Ground High School graduation night, 1984. I do believe that's our S. Sowards as the second gentleman in the picture, but the young ladies I can't identify. Anyone?

25 years ago.

And again I ask myself - forever, or yesterday?

and a few more from art

2009-08-28T03:03:00.001-07:00

words from pelsue

2009-08-26T07:29:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) I'm a little behind on the posting. But I have some great words from Dave Pelsue that I got permission to share. He'd sent them along for the 14th, but they are great for every day. They will mean as much to you as they did to me. Here. . .

* * *

Greetings everyone,

Regretfully I can't attend tomorrow's first E day with everyone but I look forward that more will follow that I can better plan for. Thanks so much Nancy for the coin Art had crafted and the pictures included in this email. As sad as his passing still is to me,... I know Erik's got that grin streaching from ear to ear right now with one raised brow as he ponders his next project step... that brings me peace...

Reflecting on the many..many positive moments, his insight, and humerous quips of wisdom far beyond his earthly years will warm my heart tomorrow as they do most any day... Just as imagining the gathering of you all together doing the same...

Erik taught this old dog some new tricks and reminded me often that there's nothing wrong with being a kid,...no matter how old we get... Keep smiling E!!!

Love..

Blister-Gel-Coat....

some photos from art

2009-08-19T19:25:00.001-07:00

(Andree here) Aren't these great!?

Doesn't Art deserve a big hug for passing these along?

Yes. Yes, he does. And then he needs to get some more, because this isn't all he sent. Stay tuned.

memories from lesa

2009-08-18T19:08:00.000-07:00

Nancy,
Sure wish I could camp in your yard under the stars tmr in a tent near yours but, how about this instead.
Tmr night me & my family will go out & gaze at the stars & send you & your family Love.
We'll be with you in thinking of E.

A few of my many fond memories of E.

1 SAMP- SON, SAMpSON, SAMPSON...
Erik used to have fun saying my maiden name.
He called me by my last name, SAMPSON. Bellowed it, Strongly. Like a coach would call out to a player.
When he learned I was engaged the first thing he wanted to know was what my new name would be. I'll never forget his reaction...
The Furrow of his brows, squinted eye, contemplation, & probably silently repeated it to himself then thoughtfully said- Humm.
Think I'll still call ya SAMPSON. OK?

DeGagne, as lovely of a name as it is- just didn't have that same...UMPH, SAMPSON did. Not Initially.
(Oh common- say each name & you'll see how they roll off the tongue differently.)

So. I stayed SAMPSON a while, then became Lesa & eventually E got used to DeGagne. Name Grew on him! (He also practiced it.)
Esp. once he got to know Mr. DeGagne, Joel. The last name Became again, more endearing.
Erik liked Joel. I Knew he would. Also believed Erik & Joel would mutually enjoy each others creative minds.
They made a brilliant contrast... Erik's been a massive positive influence on Joel. He'll forever be great full and will miss him...

2 EARLY DAYS THEN DADDY TO BE!
My early encounters with Erik was when he & Ron worked out of Erik & Nancy's house. In Northridge. I lived near by & worked at the house next door. For Nancy.
He Designed shoes & dabbled in many projects. Made beautiful furniture, shoes, you name it, he could create it.
(E even entertained starting a co. called "Farmiture". Many grand ideas like this that he & Nancy kept on back burner.
I digress...)

My earliest stage of getting to Know E inv. Nancy's pregnancy with Lyric. My presence grew stronger around the houses &
He & I collaborated together to have a co wide promowerks business mtg dual serve as a baby shower for his beloved "Nancy Pants."
(Erik & his names!)

E LOVED becoming a dad. He'd talk about their birthing plans & share glimpses on how their parenting would be.
Once Lyric arrived- Oh the Joy that filled his heart with Pride!

Having Lyric around the work places was a welcomed treat for all.
E worked & played just as hard as ever (Nancy too!) while embracing all the new dad duties.
Usually involving sleep deprivation. Sigh. I recall E's 20 min power naps.

His energy was amazing. Just Natural. Erik is just JOY full...

3 WACKY TOYS: WORK HARD/PLAY HARD
He would get the wackiest 'toys' to play with!!! Wheels & speed was a theme?
Played as hard as he worked.

He once ordered a 'bicycle' that was enclosed in a Huge Hamster-like ball. Wish I had a picture! What was this called?
Watching him & the other 'big kids' try to maneuver it was entertaining. Borderline scary.
This one I didn't try. My loss I know...

I did enjoy the mini bikes he got for us staff' to ride around the properties on. Inside the houses & out;-)
16 in. wheelers that could hold up to 300 lb. Or something like that. They were Fun!...

4 STORIES ABOUT HIS LOVED ONES (or any of the many E Stories I've enjoyed!)
Though Erik often missed WA while he lived in CA, he created a new extended family unit in CA. One he immensely valued.
A tight group he clearly cherished.
Still- E Reminisced about his families in WA & childhood pals. He often talked about. When he did, it was as if he gained newfound sense of pride. Through his stories his eyes would gleam, he'd laugh & enjoy fond pass times as if he was reliving them.
He sure had a way of bringing the stories to life... When I met many of these characters as he'd lovingly cal them, I felt like I knew them already through his tales...

E used his stories to Unit people too...

Fitting to be sharing stories about him at this time... One more!

5. APPLE STRUDEL Anyone?
The one & only time I spent any time in Texas besides at the airport was with Erik. We went on 'shoe business'.
A memorable journey.
On this journey I learned he had a major thing for Apple Strudel!
He sought it out throughout the trip. Even at the airport. Where by his luck an to my relief -it was available;-)
As tasty as Apple Strudel Is, I believe he enjoyed Saying It & asking for it as much & maybe even more than eating it!
"Oh, COME-ON LE-SaH, Don't Yah Want Some APP-PULL-- STREW- DULL?
Another thing he won me over on. Today the Apple Strudel is on my top 5 favorites.
Tomorrow I am going to get me & my family some!

Bon Appetite E:-0...

LOVE,
Lesa DeGagne aka SAMPSON

we think e stopped by

2009-08-17T06:48:00.000-07:00

We were at Buncombe Hollow (E and Nancy's property way up in Clark County) the night of the 14th, thinking of Erik, and thinking of all of you who could not join us. And then look what Nancy spotted in the fire!

In a day or two I will be posting some great images that Art sent.

one year

2009-08-14T09:43:00.000-07:00

Facebook is the new Blogger, I think.
It's there that I read Ron Maatita describing himself as "somber, poolside in the glow of torches. Strumming to the memory of a good friend."
My brother Sean asks us all, in Erik's name, is your life in balance?
Don't feel bad if yours isn't. The journey is more than half the accomplishment, I always heard.

But perhaps I'm not the one who should comment. I'm still trying to figure out how a year could be eternity and nothing at the same time; and how to turn back time; and how to answer things that have no answer at all.

Some of you who were present at Erik Rising heard me say that every morning I search my soul for any doubt that Erik is in heaven or whatever you're comfortable to name it, and that every morning I find no shred of doubt, not one.
I still search every morning. I still find no shred of doubt.

I know that Erik is free. And if some things I've heard are any indication, he's already busy.

pix from chile - had you seen these?

2009-07-15T07:33:00.001-07:00

nancy wants to share this beautiful painting with you

2009-04-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

(Andree blogging: words are Nancy's.)

Erik's farewell message
On the morning of Aug. 14th at 7:22am Erik felt his time here was complete and his spirit was released. Immediately I (Nancy) felt as if I was being directed to go outside. As I walked through the grass an energy more powerful than I can describe traveled through my body leaving me cleansed and revitalized. I had an overwhelming sensation that Erik was now everywhere in everything all at the same time. I feel this was his message to me, letting me know he made it to his destination. Erik has shown me that he is now become one with all that is, sharing an indescribable amount of energy that radiates infinitely into all us, his energy always being here guiding and teaching us along our way. At the moment Erik left us, a little smile came across his face; he was now onto his next journey.

The E “Energy”
Over the next few months I continued to experience Erik’s energy in things that I saw and the way that I felt. During a discussion with a friend, I learned of an acquaintance of Erik’s, a landscape painter. While on his website I discovered “The Gateway” the energy of this painting touched me in a special way, I was disappointed to find out the painting had sold. As a result of this experience a new painting was commissioned and created in remembrance of Erik. Below were my thoughts to help in the creation of the new painting.

What I liked about – “The Gateway”
The sky reminds me of Erik's energy more powerful than you can imagine infinitely radiating off in all directions. The trees remind me of myself and the kids, still growing and tightly fastened to the ground not yet ready to let go. The water reflects Erik's spiritual journey and strength that provided him a path to follow.

My thoughts for the new painting
· A sky full of energy infinitely radiating off in all directions
· The time of year is fall
· Deciduous trees with beautiful leaves, some fallen and some still on the trees, the trees are changing, preparing for winter and growth in the spring just like the children and I changing and growing.
· The trees together in a grove but separated into three bunches symbolizing the children and I, all of us together but each very unique
· Erik was drawn towards water; it gave him energy, happiness and a spiritual sense of well being. He expressed to his friends and family the importance of being able to drink a simple glass of water, which he was unable to do. During the last two months that Erik was with us he dreamed, discussed and immersed him self in water. The day that we came home from the hospital, Aug. 13th in the midst of all the pain and trying to get comfortable, Erik looked at me with a smile on his face and energy in his eyes and all he wanted to do was sit in a simple tub of water. Erik used water as energy to make his spiritual journey. To be without water is to be without life.

What I wanted to achieve
· The sense of an indescribable amount of energy radiating out infinitely upon all of us (sky)
· A remembrance Erik's journey that he had experienced and shared with all of us (water)
· A new journey for the kids and I full of change and growth fueled by the energy in the sky (trees)
· A piece of art that encompasses both past and present

“Glowing Valley” in remembrance of Erik and his amazing energy
Ralston Fox Smith writes “This painting was a wonderful piece to work on as it encompasses the full spectrum of life and beyond. Thank you for trusting me and my style to create both a memory of Erik, but also the character and strength of your family. Such a difficult time for you all, I hope the “place” affords you some comfort as you journey onwards. Many visitors to my studio have fallen in love with your piece and we are all excited for it to grace its intended home”
Now gracefully hanging on the wall of the dining room, Erik’s energy is shared with all of you who visit. A place of past and future celebrations where friends and family are encouraged to share and experience the strength of the Purdom family.

a big shiny e!

2009-03-27T21:20:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of Matt, Sean & Gina's son-in-law. He just went off and made it and gave it to Sean - how about that! Matt is a great guy.

kiddie e's

2009-03-01T10:07:00.001-08:00

(Andree here) Nancy sent these along. The kids did them with tile bits that had blown about in the recent storms; Lyric painted them bright colors, and then Jaeger (top) did the full radiant E, and then Lyric (bottom) did a Robert-Smithson-"Spiral Jetty" interpretation. Aren't they lovely?

the early eighties

2009-02-21T08:53:00.001-08:00

(Andree here) Dean found these, remember I promised them to you?

I don't know what the circumstances are behind all these Battle Ground High School photos - except for the bottom one, which was the school production of, uh, Merchant of Venice I think - in any case Erik's holding our dog Sed, who had a bit part in the play. (Dean? Help me out with details?)

eat toast

2009-02-15T19:35:00.001-08:00

(Andree here) More vintage gold coming from Dean shortly - but let's start with this, also from Dean.

Dean here... Recently got a note from an old school chum, Tim Kohler. We made contact through the new and silly Facebook website, which is actually pretty damn cool when it comes to finding lost contacts and friends. Tim has his own personal fat slice of hell he's chewing his way through these days, with a kid with leukemia. (Andree here: Tim, I hope you'll forgive my leaving that in, but I want to give everyone an opportunity to send their thoughts and support to you too.) He had this to say:

I saw your message about Erik and his site. I am sorry to hear of his passing.
One remembrance I have is that he had written "Eat Toast" on the wall in the
light booth of Stage III. I thought this was funny and adopted it in to my
vocabulary for a while. When I went off to photo school, I ordered a rubber
stamp to mark my slides with my name and copyright. I also ordered one that said
'Eat Toast'. I probably still have it. I don't have a pic of the wall, but
I took one of the stamp...
Tim

puppies are good

2009-02-12T20:15:00.000-08:00

(Andree here) Sean wanted to share his nice little Pocket Beagle puppies, which he adopted after falling in love with Erik's Cub. (As we all did.) Please to meet Mr. Dexter Johnson (up top in the sports jersey) and Ms. Winnie, named after the dearly loved and departed Mr. Winston.

"They are the best," Sean writes. "They help remind me of Erik."

and some more photos from before christmas

2009-02-10T20:31:00.001-08:00

(Andree here) Yes, I know. But enjoy, won't you?

catching up on some photos from christmas

2009-01-25T21:10:00.000-08:00

(Andree here) Yes, it's been a while since Christmas but I wanted to give you a few photos from the tree trimming gathering for Nancy and the kids. Thanks immensely to Andy and Amy Collen for taking so many lovely photos.

maatitatattoo

2009-01-22T19:48:00.001-08:00

(Andree here) I heard from our Ron Maatita last night - he sent this pic in to the email, along with this fine message (I'm assuming permission, Ron):

* * *

Hey Andree,
I hope this email finds you well. I just needed to share my inky tribute to the man. I did it a week or so ago. It will serve as a constant reminder of what Erik has done for me and what he means to my life. It lives on my right arm (70mm x 70mm) and is in full view while I execute and question any design work I undertake. It rests against my guitar as it resonates against me is a reminder that I played for him when he needed me to. It will be there if I'm fortunate to reach old age and will ensure that I never forget him.

This pic was taken an hour after getting it done, so it's a little red. The whole process was an emotional one for me. My artist was very sensitive to its meaning and treated Bob's graphic design with the utmost of reverence.

I'm happy to be a brother in ink!

e tat fest

2009-01-06T19:53:00.000-08:00

(Andree here)

New Year's Day saw a passel o'pals meet up at Painless Ric's in Camas to get E tats en masse. Dad's (Terry) is up above. What a nice looking bat.

"The Counselor," Steve, shows E as a compass (see below).

Above, brother Sean, and below, his First Peoples-inspired bat tat.

Above, our own dear Mike McG put the E seal on one of his not-inconsiderable forearms, below.

And here's Dean getting one on his foot. Did that hurt? Dude.

It looks like it hurt.

Nice though.

Sister Brynn checkin' hers out, adorable as always.
(Below) See it?

(Below) Adam shows the good words that kept E going through everything.

Here he is getting them in a prime spot for handy reference.

Does this give you ideas? Go thou and do likewise - if you do, send me the photo and let's share.

what erik said to marianne

2008-12-31T21:58:00.000-08:00

(Andree here) Happy New Year's Eve, everybody.

You probably know what tomorrow is. Erik's birthday. It would have been, anyhow. One year I bought him Jim Goad's The Redneck Manifesto as his gift.

Well -- Erik's not here to party with. Not exactly. But he does keep dropping in. You recall me promising you Marianne's story? Here's what E had to say to her, in no uncertain terms:

Erik visited me in a dream. Therefore, I was not surprised when, at Erik Rising, Dad Purdom spoke of Erik having communicated wisdom about transition to him duringa dream. Likewise, I was unfazed when a grieving colleague in China wrote me about Erik visiting him in a dream, smiling and telling him not to work so hard and to take care of himself.
It made sense to me. Erik cared. Despite the fact in my dream all I got was, “Check the sizes.” Yep, that’s it. Not that I’m complaining, mind you, as apparently a relatively brief professional association and friendship didn’t warrant more than a three word directive…thank you very much. I’m not even complaining about the slightly bemused, slightly smart-assed challenging look he issued when I had told him I couldn’t check the sizes myself as I didn’t know how. The look that said, “You can and you will.”
OK, so it’s true that when I took his advice I discovered this was something urgently needed, so much so that it caused a reorganization of the entire line of product that was vital for not only our launch but our survival as a new company. (But….really, Erik….three little words?)
Then again, maybe the look spoke volumes.

Believe me, Marianne, it always did. I'm comforted to hear it still does.

andy collen: 2008 is the year of e

2008-12-25T06:43:00.001-08:00

E, chilly but undaunted at the southern end o' the hemisphere.

(Andree here) Andy Collen, of Andy and Amy at Happy Trails Animation, sent this letter along to the family a couple days ago. He says things here that I knew you'd all feel deeply so I asked if I could post. And he said yes.
Merry Christmas, everyone. E would have it no other way but merry.

* * *
Greeting Erik and Family,

I say this because somewhere out there Erik is listening and I wanted to give a 'last of the year' rant.

As the year comes to an end I look back and see loss, and health issues. As Erik used to always say it is a giant hair ball of life that we are trying to untangle... or maybe not. Just sweep the darn thing under the carpet and don't tell anyone. As I sit and try to think about the first time that Amy and I realized something was wrong with Erik, was when he and Nancy took us for a walk out the the fire pit to show us some materials that they had saved and wanted to reuse in a studio. They wanted us both to have these rather large stainless steel barriers. When Erik said that they would like them to be in our studio I could see in his eyes that it was something special that he wanted to live on through others. Amy and I felt very lucky that they were willing to give us or let use take care of something so unique by Erik.

Over the years Erik had told Amy and I about so many of his other friends that he wanted to connect us up with. I am only sorry that we did not have the time to make that happen. I did get a chance to catch up with a few folks at the Erik Rising party. Nancy sure does know how to organize some cool events. You know Nancy, pot luck is always nice too. That last night fire pit at the party was great having all those folks that I heard so much about sitting sharing Erik stories what a send off. I know Erik is not really gone he is just with each one of us now. We all have a piece of Erik in us all. Something I am going to cherish forever.

As I begin to reflect on things to come for Happy Trails... I always felt like we were one of Erik's pet projects... he was always trying to push us along. I see that his influences have brought on some interesting changes for us. It is his questions and discussions about the industry that made us begin to think in new directions and take some risks like he did with so many. It is with those risks that we are headed for some kind of 3 year contract with folks like EMI records, Warner Brothers Music, Disney, Lionsgate Entertainment and many more. Our little day by day survival studio is about to turn the corner and become a cutting edge content provider for some pretty amazing clients. But the one thing I know... is that I need to find my fire pit. Something to keep me tuned back into the smaller things in life... the things that really matter. Erik had a way of Yin and Yang... trying to find balance. It was when he started to include Amy and I into his excuse to get away and sit by his glowing fire-pit cook some meat on a stick... and talk... just like the Native Americans did... and before them the Cavemen. You could see the fire light dance on the rocks... turn your head and look up and witness a sea of stars. Which would then bring us back to... US... a speck on a planet that is a speck in a solar system... that is a speck in the universe.

To me this year is all about Erik... I will Chalk in my history book as 2008 the year of Erik. I am lucky to have been part of his universe and he will forever be part of mine. Rather then feeling sad I am honored and feel privileged to have the experiences that I have.

To Erik I say thanks for all the help big buddy. And to his family I say thanks for including Amy and I. On to a new year which will bring new stories and I hope some great Fire Pit meals.

Andy

mom and dad's christmas letter

2008-12-22T05:16:00.001-08:00

(Andree here. Ornament by Dean) Mom and Dad sent along their Christmas letter wondering if it was postable. And of course it is.

* * *

Christmas letter 2008

This year started so happily. In February we went to Chile, Argentina and Easter Island with Erik, Nancy, Lyric and Jaeger.

It was a wonderful adventure.

With the glow of this happy time still upon us, life changed dramatically. The family and many friends came together to help Erik fight a dread disease and then ultimately help with his transition.

Erik died in August.

In September a lovely crowd gathered to celebrate his being at “Erik Rising”. It was a beautiful, fantastic day---many spoke of their personal relationship with Erik. Through tears and sadness we managed smiles upon telling stories about Erik.

We have a deep gratitude to all that helped Erik and us. We have discovered the depth of love that is out there for Erik and have become the recipients of that love.

Of course, we continue though each moment has taken on a different hue. As we celebrate Christmas and the Holidays this year, we will work at enjoying every second. Should Erik look upon us during these Christmas holidays, he will smile --- especially when we tease and challenge Lyric and Jaeger.

Terry and Donna

from across the pond

2008-12-19T17:26:00.000-08:00

(Andree here) I'm very grateful to Marianne Kay for the post I'm about to give you, as it largely consists of messages she's transmitting from colleagues in China. Let's get right to them:

Marianne opens: Allow me to share excerpts of emails sent by colleagues in China. I’ve not asked their permission to post so I have omitted names but allow these excerpts to show that others overseas, whom you might never meet, were as deeply moved by Erik as those of us who were fortunate enough to have been able to share our memories and our grief at Erik Rising. I know they, like we, will never forget him. Please read their words:

* * *

Actually I don’t know how to describe my feelings. There were too many to express for this friendship between Erik & I. I just couldn’t accept such a great man passed away. I kept asking where God is. I don’t care how many miracles He made. All I begged of Him to was to put a magic on my friend Erik, but it seemed that He was not existent. Or maybe, just maybe He had more important assignments for Erik to spread his spirit in another world, but it wasn’t fair because we need the giant here too.

I met Erik in a dream last week. He was smiling to me and said “ Hey, don’t worry, or life will kill you.” He told me don’t work that hard and asked me to take care of myself. You know, he always said there are many puzzles in my head and I tried to organize all the pieces together. He wanted me to relax from work and take care of myself. I do miss this guy. He was like a meteor in this world; his life wasn’t long but it was shining and made the surroundings sunny.

I’ve never met Erik’s family but I do wish I could meet them someday. Erik talked a lot about them. I wish all these friendships could take the sorrow from Nancy and children.

It is really difficult for me to take this sad news, and still couldn't get my emotion recovered since I received your email yesterday morning. In fact, I was just thinking about paying a visit to meet him and his family in Oct.

He is such an important person in my life and always devoted himself to help. No selfishness at all.

It is a real hurt to lose a good friend like Erik and he will be always on my mind as my mentor forever. Seriously, we all owe him a huge deal for his contribution…

The news of his death hit me really hard. I would like to express my condolences for the loss of him. There were so many things that made him special to me. It is very difficult to lose this good friend. He will always be in my heart.

* * *

(Andree again) Marianne had an excellent story of her own, and it deserves its own post. Stay tuned. And the family's continued warm wishes and gratitude to you all as we move closer to the holidays.

sean found these!

2008-12-16T06:22:00.001-08:00

(Andree here) Sean found these a day or two ago. These were taken overseas a couple of months before E's diagnosis, as Sean notes: "He was certainly not feeling good at this point, but as you can see.....full of smiles."

As the holiday approaches, our first without E here (or you could say, his first without us there), there will be new and old photos and stories to share. Don't be shy, mail 'em in! Just let me know it's okay to post.

"do not forget me"

2008-12-08T08:18:00.001-08:00

(Andree here) I imagine we'll have some stuff to add in a bit, but the family wanted to share this photo we found. He looks so much like Dad here it's uncanny.

present from kelly

2008-11-11T07:01:00.000-08:00

(Andree here) This popped into hotmail a couple days ago with the following note from Kelly O'Toole:

I only now have learned of Erik's death. My deepest sympathy to all. Although I
only knew of Erik and his family from their attendance at northwest mogfest, I
enjoyed every minute I managed to spend with him and left wanting more. His
sense of humor was truly wonderful and that is how I will always remember him.
Attached is a photo I took of him driving at NWMF 05. Feel free to use it as you
wish. -- Kelly O'Toole

Kelly, thank you for this photo. It's a good one.

photos from bruce

2008-11-04T06:46:00.000-08:00

(Andree here) Bruce Beck sent some great photos along. I wish were were all on that Pinz with E in the sun, right now.

e at the wheel

2008-10-31T21:08:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) I felt guilty for not posting and not brave enough to look at all the photos.

So, I pushed myself to look for only a little something and found this from Sean. For some odd reason it cheered me up a tiny bit. I like to think that E is up putting the hurt on some unpaved heavenly terrain. Whee!

Don't forget now - I will post whatever you like, just send it and tell me so.

and some more photos

2008-10-26T09:18:00.001-07:00

(Andree here) From an epic road trip a couple years back, with Bill Skibbe and cameos by Walt Leuth and Adam Baker.

let's have some photos

2008-10-18T07:28:00.001-07:00

All photos of the Rising, courtesy Art Thompson. (AndreeL)

a new friend: brett

2008-10-14T20:37:00.001-07:00

Andree here. My regrets for not publishing more this past week. Sometimes I'm not as brave as I could wish, lately.

But I'd like you to read what Brett Ankrom sent along. He is (yes, I use present tense) one of Erik's newer friends, and I hope more of us will be meeting him sooner rather than later. This is what he sent over the course of a couple-a-emails:
* * *
I have spent most of today thinking of Erik, with my thoughts going to Nancy and the kids. I only knew Erik for 5 years but he had a profound effect on me. His passing has been very rough on me and I find myself grieving with an intensity that I only felt when I lost my twin brother. All of us share the First of January as our birthday's, I will not let a New Years pass without thinking of Erik and my brother Brian.

I know that you Purdoms have a special outlook on things and have a wonderful way of expressing yourselves, please don't lose that perspective. I hope that the coming months and years won't bitter or corrupt your zest for life and taint your heart with thoughts that have crept in my mind over the years since my brothers death. The road ahead will be filled with why's and how come, but keep your strength. Erik lives in everyone who loves him, hell I still have a voice mail from him from this summer that I cannot stop listening to, but he will always be a bigger memory to me than that. Yes, I like many have learned and borrowed from Erik, I will carry those traits that I so admired in him with me and try to pay them forward to others as unselfishly as he did. Just know that time won't heal the pain, nor should it when you have a loss as big as Erik, but all that know him will conclude that he wants the smiles to flow like the tears have. Yes I cry for Erik, but I will smile too, for I am better to have known him than not, God Keep You My Big Viking Friend.

God keep you strong Purdoms, God give strength to Nancy for her sake and Lyric and Jaeger. Keep the faith and always keep the flame of Erik in your heart.
Love and Warmth to Erik's family and friends
Brett & Cheryl Ankrom

(And when I asked if I could post this he replied)

I have not had the pleasure of meeting you or the wonderful Purdom Family. I am the guy Erik, Nancy and the kids hung out with for a month 4 years ago when launching the Mozo program at the Sysco Food Show in Cleveland. I could not attend the Erik Rising because even though I am 6 foot and 237 pounds of piss, vinegar & muscle from linebacker and bodybuilding days, I do not possess enough strength to stop my overwhelming sense of loss and grief from Erik. You may inquire with Nancy how I cried when he and his family left us from the month we had together, he truly became like a brother to me in that time (I lost my twin brother from Cystic Fibrosis at 16 years 9 months) I looked forward to him just walking in and heading to the fridge!

As I reply to you Andree, eyes welling, I know that the David Bowie and Devo selections are now branded deep in my mind with images of a great man called Erik Purdom.

* * *
How could I not publish this? Welcome, Brett, and we look forward to a happier day when we get to meet you in person. Meanwhile here's a virtual hug and hankie...

adam's editorial

2008-10-08T20:21:00.001-07:00

(Andree here) Here's Adam's editorial from Carson City, Nevada's NevadaAppeal.com. I promised it to you all and know you will appreciate Adam's thoughts . . .

* * *
Since I dropped out of the mayor’s race a couple of months ago, I’ve had a lot of people ask why. Well, to tell the truth, right after I filed, there were a lot of “Murphie’s Law” type of events that hit me all at once. The worst thing, however, was receiving word that one of my best friends was diagnosed with terminal cancer. I spent the last couple of months or so traveling back and forth to Washington State helping him through the worst nightmare anybody could possibly imagine. Erik lost his battle on the morning of August 14. He was only forty-two. We have been friends since high school and to be honest folks, my head just wasn’t where it should have been to serve you the way I thought I should have been able to. My apologies.

I would have made a terrible mayor or supervisor anyway. I don’t have any wild, hell raising chickens in my yard, or anything like that. That and I probably would have done something totally out of character for a city representative too, listened to the voters. I do ride my bike to work though . . . sober. Not very interesting, I’m afraid. Okay, enough of the cheap shots. Sorry, that was my warped sense of humor rearing its goofy old head again.

Anyway, the reason I brought up my friend Erik was that even in the midst of agonizing pain and suffering, the amazing creativity and selflessness everyone knew him for would still peek out from behind the clouds once in awhile. I recall him reeling in agony and yet he was more concerned with making sure your beer was cold enough than focusing on his own dilemma. He always had an amazing talent for thinking outside of the box too. I confess that I had been doing a little snooping around his office the day after he died and I stumbled upon one of the latest projects he was working on. I won’t tell anyone what it was for obvious reasons, but I can say this. I was astonished by the fact it was such a simple idea and yet such an ingenious one. It was an idea that was very typical of my friend’s selfless outlook on life. It was something that was designed to help others, namely children. In my opinion, it was revolutionary.

Erik was just that kind of a guy. He was always creating something that made the world a better place, all the while provoking you to you think while he was doing it. He was extremely successful because he never gave anybody a handout. He had this amazing talent for pointing out to people the gifts they already had inside of them and helping them discover how to set their own ideas into motion. Wouldn’t it be great to have leaders like this? I think our country did at one time. This is the caliber of leadership you don’t find much anymore, but when you do, it’s like finding treasure. This is the kind of leadership our country was built on. This is the kind of leadership and integrity I want from my friends to my mayor on up to my president.

I’m like a lot of people who are sick of trying to achieve “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” only to be told by my government twenty reasons why I can’t. I want leadership that knows that the first rule of being a leader is to know how to be a servant. I want leadership that empowers its people and their talents before shopping elsewhere. And where did this idea that we as Americans can’t think and do for our selves anymore come from? Well, you may not like the answer, but here it is. Ourselves. That’s right. Many of us have become slaves to our own apathy and laziness. So what’s the answer Baker? Well, maybe this is coming from a simple-minded barber, but I believe the answer is to repent. The word “repent” scares a lot of people, but it simply means to have a serious change of heart, do an “about face” and walk the opposite way we’ve been walking.

Instead of trying to go around the world policing it, maybe we should just go back to being the example to it. Maybe instead of allowing ourselves to continue being the fat and lazy consumers of the world, we ought to repent, cinch up our belts a notch or two and re-discover the mighty producers we once were. Maybe we ought to stop listening to our politicians tell us we’re all stupid and they know what’s best for us, and collectively take back what is right instead of allowing them to keep doing what is wrong.

If I do a bad haircut, my customer fires me. Why don’t we enforce the firing of public servants who do a poor job? I believe in capital punishment! I believe a lot of people in the capital should be punished! I also believe in the “time out” philosophy in discipline; “time out for a spanking!”

Apathy. Apathy is destroying us, one look the other way at a time. The way I see it, until we all stop focusing on ourselves first, we can never grow in the direction we need to grow as fellow humans. The next time you find yourself dwelling in the land of “Me,” try and “repent.” Do something to empower someone else, even if it hurts. Hey and if you’re ready for a real rush, do something good for someone who would never do something good for you. No strings attached either! I know, it’s the opposite of how a lot of brainwashed people typically think, but can you imagine what would happen if everyone did this for a day, or even an hour?

I’m Adam Baker. And this has been “A Little Off the Top.”

sean's notes from the rising

2008-10-04T10:08:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) Sean sent along his notes from which he spoke at the Rising, and I thought you all might enjoy seeing them. Stay tuned for a worthy editorial Adam Baker wrote for his hometown paper, but right now Sean is in the spotlight . . . here you go.

* * *

“Erik Rising”

Opening

· My name is Sean Purdom and as most of you know, I am Erik’s big brother.

· I would like to welcome our friends and family to Erik Rising, a tribute to one of the finest human beings this earth has had the privilege of being peed on by…..and my beautiful brother.

· The Purdom Family would like to thank you for spending a portion of your weekend with us to celebrate the life of Erik. Yes, this day will be difficult and sad as we each discuss our memories of the “Big E”, but today is a celebration. A celebration of the extremely adventurous life that my brother led and usually attempted to wrap you in to whether you liked it or not.

· Erik was not like all the others…he was not like me. He was different and that difference is what made him uniquely qualified to be who he was. He was the kid that wore yellow pants to high school, when everyone else was wearing blue SF Riding Jeans or Britannia’s……Who was to know that this different and unique kid would grow up to be the master of his universe and live on a plane most of us can only dream about? If you were lucky enough to get wrapped up in the tornado called Erik…you understand what I am saying.

· Erik touched many people’s lives. He touched everyone in this room….and more. Whether you met Erik once or you were a lifelong friend…he touched you. Erik was a person that you do not easily forget. Be it his imposing stature or his silver tongue…not easy to forget.

· Erik lived 3 lifetimes to our 1. As I look at this video presentation, it becomes even clearer how much this kid lived. No adventure was too big for him.

· I would like to walk you down a path of memories that I shared with Erik, some good, some bad….all treasured.

Outline

· Growing Up Memories
o We did not always get along
§ We used to fight like cats and dos sitting next to each other in the car.
§ Many a fight rolling around in the back yard with massive headlocks applied.
o Erik’s attempt at playing baseball in grade school
o Mom divorcing us in the 7th and 8th grade
o Playing wiffle ball and hotbox for hours in the back yard.
· High School
o Erik cheerleading
o Erik’s crazy attitude
o Stupid stunts
o Playing guitar in BGHS plays
o Who would have known at this point that Erik could have mastered any skill he wanted
· Adulthood
o The Portland drug house (ed. note: Dude, they named it "Bad Manor" - AL)
o Working at subway-they could not understand why Erik’s fingers always had grease under the nails
o Owning businesses and bouncing ideas
§ It did not matter what your particular widget or service was….Erik could provide a barrage of ideas to improve your possibilities
o Project Work
§ Erik was an idea guy. More so than any other person that I have ever met.
§ Fun and challenging to work with….
§ Never settled for mediocrity
§ Pinz
§ Mozo
§ Most folks do not know this but Erik, Nancy, Art Thompson and I were going to toss a daredevil out of a balloon over 100K feet in the air….these are the kind of ideas Erik could wrap his mind around.
§ I always ask myself…would Erik (and Hans for that matter) think this is quality work?
o Cooking
§ Erik could have been a master chef. Restaurant owner.
§ Figuring out his recipes would have been a challenge.
o Property
§ Erik had an amazing ability to visualize and then realize his ideas
§ As you will see at Erik and Nancy’s property…he is a big idea guy….and it shows.
o Family and Friends
§ Erik was all about family and friends.
§ Loved his family, loved his friends

Closing

Friends, I could go on forever. If there is one thing about the Purdom family, there is no shortage of experiences. Erik helped create many of them.

As we all share our memories today, remember, Erik is looking down on us and saying….what are you guys all crying about? Why aren’t you at my house in the sauna or in the pit having a barbeque….and a beer.

Erik was the type of cat that learned from his life experiences. He had an amazing hard drive. He he remembered memories of our childhood that we long gone for me. Guys like him seemingly have learned all they can learn, but even Erik, as intelligent as he was…was learning until the end. His advice as he was leaving us…..balance….balance your life.

Cheers Erik…..I will see you on the other side……I love you brother.

* * *

Photo is courtesy of Art Thompson, and I need to share some more of them with you - Art, you and Roberta are a privilege and joy to know.

ron maatita

2008-10-01T14:14:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) Ron sent me this last night.

He meant to get up at the Rising and read it, but sometimes there's only so much the heart can take at a particular time. Here at the blog it's here safely to be read over and over. So excellent Ron, you have the com. . .

* * *

These words sat folded in my pocket for the duration of the celebration.

I met Erik in the fall of 1990 (or there about). Back then I was a design school dropout driving a courier van for LA Gear in Los Angeles, and I was fully intent on becoming a footwear designer. No schools were teaching Athletic footwear design at that time and I’d hoped the best way to learn the craft was from the inside. Once inside the company I forced my design portfolio onto anyone who would entertain me. From CFO’s to salespeople, designers to janitors, I was met with the usual pat on the head and canned words of encouragement, until I met Erik.

I approached the largest man I’d ever meet, whom at the time sported the largest braided ponytail I’d ever seen, expecting to be flicked away like the pest I was convinced to be. To my pleasant surprise, he spoke to me with a sincerity and enthusiasm yet to be rivaled by anyone in my life. He had a way of speaking to this stranger as if I were the only person at the party. Over time he took me under his expansive wings and molded me into a footwear designer, we became friends as well. In early 1994 I finally earned the design 1 position for Mens and Boys footwear, working under my mentor and buddy. I owed him immensely.

The next few years at Gear are where I honed my skills and continued my education. In addition to the hard work and late nights, Erik taught me to find inspiration in the world around me, as it was everywhere. We partook in field trips to stimulate the mind, dug through countless boxes of airplane parts, watched sculptures which shot fire and destroyed themselves and on at least one occasion, witnessed a man in Golden Gate Park who appeared to be in his 50’s fully dressed like a baby, diaper, bonnet and all. Inspiration came from all of this. He also taught me the fine art of filing margarita mix in my file cabinet under “M” and how to drink Sierra Nevada Pale Ale in full view of the company’s security cameras, after hours of course.

After Erik left the corporate world I joined him as a sub contractor to Purdom Footwear Design. This was to become the absolute pinnacle of my career. We took on only the most interesting of challenges and quickly became a sought after “full service” resource. From design to hand made prototyping, promotional vehicles to protective sport brassieres, we did it all- and I’m proud to say that we did it better than the other guys. As with all things worthy, the challenges proved to be stressful and we faced them with grace and endless amounts of laughter. At this point in time our careers became our lifestyle. This was no job. The days were long and the projects were rewarding. I was proud that Erik referred to me as his #1 through it all. I long for those days.

In our years together, we shared an eventful and interesting bond. He was the man responsible for my pre-wedding pep talk. We shared the births of our first daughters and the untimely deaths of our fathers-in-law, who died exactly a week apart in 1998. We shared celebrations and music, meteor showers and micro brews, uproarious laughter and tears. I can still feel the pain of the collision we suffered as we carved the Summit Run, snowboarding in Big Bear. Though I don’t think he suffered as much as I did.

I made the difficult decision to return to the corporate world in 2001. Erik and I had remained friends, though his returning to Washington State and our life’s demands would keep us apart. We’d go on to see each other at trade shows and during the odd business trip. Each meeting only reminding me of how much I missed him. He was never too bashful to tell me that he felt the same way. On a winter evening in 2006 I walked him to his cab in Las Vegas (Yes, many a drink flowed that night). Before he pulled away Erik got out of his cab as if he’d forgotten something and said, “I miss you, buddy”.

The last time I saw Erik was in early August. I was fortunate to spend a couple days in Washougal. Even in sickness he still showed concern for others. Looking at the clock, he urged me to get on the road and not miss my flight. The last tearful words I shared with him were that I loved him and that he’s always with me. I also told him that he’s the best friend my life has ever had. I left, convinced that we’d see each other again.

Erik gave me gifts of knowledge, experience and friendship. He opened doors for me. I can only honor him by sharing that knowledge which he so selflessly gave to me. I will never again meet anyone like Erik Purdom.

I will miss him painfully for the rest of my life.

uncle doug

2008-09-30T06:58:00.001-07:00

(Andree here) Here's something Nancy's Uncle Doug in Minnesota wanted to say in tribute...
* * *
To my dear niece Nancy and all of the Purdom family, it is said by many and most all that met and knew Erik that he touched their hearts and this very much also holds true for me.

His outgoing nature seemed to me to be much like his father's and to me it created and atmosphere that anyone would enjoy.

It is not enough to just say that we miss him, but to say that we all loved him!

My last visit with Erik and Nancy was when they stopped by here at my home on East Battle Lake on their way back from a shoe sales trip to New York.

I am so glad that they did that as it was a great joy for me to see then again. It was also the first time I saw their children and I also immediately became very fond of them. They, no doubt, are much like their parents.

On that last visit Erik gave me a pair of special designed shoes which I am wearing now as I write this. My sister, Gerry, recently described them as "European Style". I will now cherish them forever with thoughts of Eric.

I most certainly wish that I could have made the trip to Washington for Erik Rising as I know it will be something very special. As it is I have been in tears so much of the time with this that I have had very difficult time in writing this.

Close family ties have always been very meaningful to me and I do plan to visit family out there again, though, sometime in the future.

The Washougal area also brings back many pleasant memories with all of the time I spent on Lake River there years ago.

I can not say enough for what a great loss it is to lose Erik...

Doug Kramer

audrey campbell writes

2008-09-29T20:11:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) Amy Collen - a major force in the team that brought the multimedia presentation to the Rising - received a note from Audrey Campbell. Audrey's known most of us through the last over-a-decade, through gallery openings and art car drive ins and cartooning jams and animation festivals.

Imagine what angelic patience THAT takes.

Speaking of angelic, she and her husband Scot "Extremo" Campbell came to the Rising, and these words are her gift to Erik.

NAMASTE
Namaste: "The light in me honours the light in you" in Sanskrit. Traditionally said as a greeting.
A friend of Scot’s passed away 6 weeks ago. I didn’t know him well. We met Erik through a friend at Scot’s first art show at the Basil Hallward Gallery in 2003. He really wanted to buy a painting called “Kathy Kitty Goes to Ice Cream City” but it had already been sold, so he commissioned a painting from Scot for his daughter Lyric.
We got to know Erik and his beautiful wife Nancy over the past few years, Scot more than I. We usually met up at a mutual friend’s birthday party, once a year. Erik was a very large Viking of a man with a booming voice and a boisterous manner. He was intelligent, quick witted and no doubt ADHD. Wherever he was, he was the event.

In March of this year he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of pancreatic cancer and passed away six weeks ago, he was 42. Saturday was his memorial. Erik was a very interesting and quirky person. During the memorial I could not tell apart his actual siblings from his friends. I had met Hans, his younger brother, and Andre, his sister, before but everyone who spoke seemed to be a brother of his. As it turned out this was the way Erik did life.
I learned many things about Erik on Saturday that I didn’t know before:
There were two kinds of people in Erik’s world, friends and strangers.
He fed and nurtured all his relationships.
You were never an acquaintance, you were a part of his life. If you came to visit and he was building a chicken coop, you were building it too.
He was the kid in high school that wore the yellow pants and thought they were cool.
He pushed people to be better and inspired them to be.
The things I did know about Erik were:
He loved to laugh and tell stories about anything and nothing and he had a story for everything.
He had an energy and life force that few could ignore or would want to.
Problems were insignificant, annoyances if even elevated to that level.
In his presence one felt safe.
Of course there were many stories told that day, lots of laughs and many more tears.
I have recently been going through a passage of growth and understanding, a milestone of life, realizing more clearly that all the frustrations in my life come from inside me and not from the people I assign my frustrations to! All the craziness in my life is from me? What? I am now realizing that, well, yes, it is.
I recently read a quote: “What’s best for me is already on it’s way.” I take that to mean that the Universe provides. Erik’s memorial brought me once again the understanding that I have got to live each day in joy and to take the time to enjoy the world and experience my life. Our time here together is too short and the people in my life are far more important than the lawn I am not cutting or the bill I am not paying. My life’s lessons are important too. I have recently seen very clearly that if I don’t learn my lesson in one place, it is not going to go away just because I go to another room. Wherever I go, there I am, and there is that damn lesson. Until I learn it, it will pop up over and over again. And it doesn’t have anything to do with anybody else… only me.
In the few days since Erik’s memorial I have walked in a sense of thankfulness and joy for all of my family, my closest friends and the people that I love. These are coincidentally the same people who love, cherish and fill me. I know the “overwhelmingness” of this feeling will fade in a few weeks or days but I really want to let you know that I count you as one of the special people in my life, “my family” and I want you to know that you are important to me. Even though I may not always say it or show it I love and cherish your life and friendship. Without you I would have missed the many experiences we have shared and my life would have been missing the richness you have brought me.
Namaste
"The light in me honors the light in you"

***

Audrey, our thanks for the light in you. -- Andree

Hi again everyone

2008-09-28T19:59:00.001-07:00

(Andree here) For all of you - those who could make it and those who couldn't make it happen -- I want you to know that there are photos coming of Erik Rising. And all kinds of good stuff, I hear.

The Rising was well attended, the weather was perfection, and the togetherness was total. If you couldn't make it, we thought of you and spoke of you and felt gratitude in our hearts for the love you sent. And to every single one of you, thank you for standing with us that day, whether in Washougal or across the world.

I do have a little something for you that Lyric did.

See that? There's the official "RIP" marker down there, but he's dressed just like usual (Shoedogs, you will note the prominence of that sartorial feature), and two big smiling beings gently checking him out as he rises. And now the closeup:

Bye, Erik! Have a good trip! See you in a bit now!

erik rising: a special invitation from the family

2008-09-08T19:48:00.000-07:00

The Value of Time.
Success of Perseverance.
Dignity of Simplicity.
Worth of Character.
Power of Kindness.
Influence of Example.
Obligation of Duty.
Wisdom of Economy.
Virtue of Practice.
Improvement of Talent.
-- Erik's quote for Purdom Footwear Design

The family of Erik Christian Purdom invites you to join us for “Erik Rising,” an afternoon of sharing tales tall and true, on Saturday September 27th 2008.

We’ll gather together at 1 PM at the Washburn Performing Arts Center, located at the auditorium of Washougal High School, 1201 39th St., Washougal WA 98671.

There will be an audiovisual presentation of Erik through the years, and time to speak of your own memories. Later we’d like you to join us at Erik and Nancy’s house for a private party; directions to house provided at event.

Map from Portland International Airport to the Washburn Performing Arts Center here.

* * *

Coming in from out of town? Marriott SpringHill Suites Vancouver Columbia Tech Center is conveniently located 15 minutes from the house and easily reachable from Portland International Airport. Phone 360-260-1000. Click here.

You may also like these other hotels, located near the airport:
Embassy Suites Portland Airport, 503.460.3000 click here

Country Inn and Suites by Carlson, Portland Airport 888.201.1746 click here

Quality Inn and Suites Airport Convention Center 503.255.1404 click here

For luxury accommodations consider
Skamania Lodge, Skamania WA (1/2 hour east of Washougal in the scenic Columbia Gorge) 800.221.7117 http://www.skamania.com/

Heathman Lodge, Vancouver WA (Located in the center of not very scenic Vancouver, but it's of excellent quality) 888.475.3100 http://www.heathmanlodge.com/

Campsites will be available on Erik and Nancy’s property if you would like to bring your tent or RV.

Please RSVP at erikpurdomproject@hotmail.com or the message service at these phone numbers: 888.904.1221 (toll free) or 360.326.6494.

georgina wrote the nicest thing

2008-09-07T07:09:00.001-07:00

(Andree here) Georgina Kramer is Nancy's mom and Erik's mother in law. I had no idea she had written anything into the Oregonian guestbook, and stumbled upon this yesterday:

Erik was taken from us far to soon,our hearts are broken with sadness. He influenced all of us by example, a man of character and kindness, wisdom beyond his years. A great designer was he. Our love for him will live on forever in memories. Words cannot express our loss of our wonderful Erik who we dearly miss. Deepest sympathy to all the Purdom family. We will keep you in our prayers.

Thank you, Georgina, for these lovely words and for everything you did for us.

sean thought you'd like this photo

2008-09-05T07:11:00.001-07:00

(Andree here) I like this photo a lot too. It's E and Jaeger at Mogfest 2004.

September 27th, everybody: formal announcement by the end of the weekend.

sheri at swiss army

2008-09-03T07:30:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) Hi everyone. Remember those lovely photos I posted a while ago, of good everyday things like boats and trucks and kids and fluffy dogs? Those were Sheri's.

Sheri, I hope you don't mind if I share your email with everyone, because you wrote so well of the sweetness of daily things with my brother along....

* * *
I can not find the words to express how very very sorry we are
but want you to know we thought a lot of Erik.
As you know he was very special to many persons.
He is greatly missed.
It is said time heals all wounds, I disagree. I believe time helps tolerate the wounds.
I am grateful for the time we were able to share with Erik and Nancy.
And have them as our friends.
I sold him his first Pinzgauer,
He and Sean came to Arkansas and drove it all the way back to California.
Erik was the only person I know who could eat more chocolate fudge than me.
Another visit to Ark. Erik Nancy and Lyric. We went to a restaurant for lunch
I never saw anyone order so much food. I thought maybe extra for snacks, or dinner
but I was wrong, there none left for snacks, and we all went out later for dinner.
We later were in Washington. It was a great pleasure to visit our valued friends and
to share vegetables from their beautiful garden Erik had built Nancy.
I never seen anything like it. It was like something you dream or would think to see on tv but not real.
I can imagine all the knowledge and skills he used to build all the ideas he used on the Pinzgauers,
shoes, home, furniture, garden, etc.
I do not think there was anything Erik could not do.
You have our deepest sympathy

Best regards
Sheri and Willy

letter from china

2008-09-01T20:15:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) I can't resist sharing with you the note I received from Kevin Kang in Taiwan, who had written the following letter when he learned of E's illness, but didn't send it then. I understand. You'll all appreciate this heartfelt note.
* * *
Hey duo,

How are you doing?

It’s so many times I try to write you an email, but my fingers seemed out of my control. You know, you are the best guy I every met. It’s unbelievable that the greatest man I ever met is a foreigner! And he is such a big guy! Do you know how much I learn from you within working with you? I do like your attitude for life. Work hard, play hard! I still remember we had supper of spicy food in Dongquang. We ate 8 dishes hot and spicy food and had 7 bottles of beer. Of course, I only had one bottles. All people in that restaurant like you because you acted so nature, friendly and nice.

For the work, I will say we are something in common. We always try to dig out something new form some crazy idea but build an easy & no pressure surrounding. I will say if I could work for a boss like you, I would be happy; my wife Nikey would be very happy as well. I mentioned you a lot when we were chatting by phone. Erik, do you know what made me sad since I knew you? Most of people who knew me thought I am a nice guy, but you are better than me.

This is why I can’t accept this happened to you. I doubt the God existence. Take care yourself, man. I will cross my fingers and wish you luck.

Warm regards,

Kevin

from kip and marilyn

2008-08-29T08:03:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) I'm a bit tardy publishing this tribute but I'd love for you to read what Kip Baldwin and Marilyn Hillman say about E.

Dreams, ideas, passion, a spirit larger than life. I truly believe ERIK'S existence had already moved beyond this physical world. ERIK hung around with us who are still caught up in this mortal toil, due to the fact he loved us all too much to let go. Infinity said, "ERIK it is time to move on we are in need of your designs".
ERIK is here and everywhere! ERIK is and always will be! And here's to mead and pickled eggs!
All our love,Kip & Marilyn

see e, hear e

2008-08-27T06:58:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) Sean found some YouTube of E doing an interview. Wow! What a precious find.

Although it kind of hurts, too, to be honest.

e in the tropics

2008-08-24T19:23:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) Sean met up with E and our cousins Adam and Suzanne Moilanen on a trip to Singapore not so long ago. . . although right about now it seems like a century. Anyhow, I thought you all might like them.

I don't even want to start guessing what he's thinking here. Captioning contest anybody?

if you'd like to see it...

2008-08-23T22:35:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) E's obituary was published in our Vancouver WA paper, The Columbian, on the 21st. (I was at Mom and Dad's, so haven't blogged as regularly.)

The page is here, if I link correctly(***EDIT: The Columbian changed their page publishing software at August's end, so we are madly trying to find the guestbook. Swell.)

Shortly: Pix from Sean of E enjoying some tropic time in Singapore.

bruce beck says

2008-08-21T08:05:00.000-07:00

That Purdom glue is tenacious stuff and Erik applied it liberally. Only erik could take two men about to come to blows and have them drinking beer together within the hour. So as I am sitting there having a beer with the man whose face I wanted to bloody only moments ago a very content Erik sits there sipping a Bodingtons. Proud that he once again was able to control the situation with a healthy dose of that Purdom glue. And I'm just siting there thinking damn he did it to me again!!.

That was Erik's talent of bonding people together. Erik also had a penchant for collecting unique and eccentric people. for different and original perspectives were of great value and entertainment to him. Without Erik's fastidious application of fresh glue we will slowly drift into our individual paths. But I for one can tell you I will carry that glue until the day I die. Erik had many friends but to many Erik was their best friend.

An old memory of baby Lyric reaching up for me to carry her keeps playing in my head and it just tears me up every time.

Beck

from Lesa DeGagne

2008-08-20T07:01:00.000-07:00

While I do remember Erik and his countless tools (lol) I also remember Erik being A Walking Thesaurus!
Like A Vocabulary Superhero (better than the PBS "Word Girl"). I love how he speaks.
He masterfully paired his tonal inflections with many equally expressive, animated, facial and physical gestures. Erik was Never A Bore To Listen To!
His voice and vocal inflections were unique. (though I remember hearing Hans speak from another room and w/out seeing him, their voices are similar. Guess he part shares this 'Gift'.) ...
One thing Erik and Nancy used to do when they brainstormed over a new product, or service, was to write a list of words they felt best captured its essence.
I joined in on their doing this on a few occasions. Was like a game.
Below is a list that best captures who Erik was (is)to me!
ERIk PURDOM :
- Multi Talented
- Creative Genius
- Mater Story Teller
- Boundless Energy (This man needed No 'Red Bull')
- Courageous
- Pillar of Strength
- Unpretentious (He liked this term and it suites his well. He wore it well! )
- Unaffected (another one)
- Mechanical Whiz
- 'Jack of All Trades'
- Woodsman/Outdoorsman
- Adventurous Explorer
- Peaceful
- Intuitive/ Insightful (Highly intelligent!)
- Tasteful
- Vocabulary Genius
- Life of any Party
- Adoring, Loving;
* Husband (LOVES his "Nancy Pants" as he often called her)
* Father
* Son
* Brother and
* Friend!!!
- Family Oriented (LOVEs his family and friends!)
- Great at All he did! Even if he did not at first succeed. He always Tried and with Greatness! Okay a word for this!??? I am not the thesaurus he is!...
- DO- er ! A Doer.... A+ for his endless efforts! He always Tried. Therefore never failed ;-0...
- Dependable
- High Spirited (Reason he made an awesome Cheerleader in his sch. days huh! Though he had other motives for cheering on his schools team;) )
- Charming!
- HYSTERICALLY Fun
- Passionate (most everything he did was Heartfelt)
- Thoughtful
- Generous
- Appreciative
- AN AMAZING EXAMPLE TO ALL...
- Greatly Respected. (His opinions and those of Nancy's were (ARE) greatly valued and sought out. Dean's blog posting clearly stated this and deeply moved me to tears! Rang such truth!)
- Trustworthy ...
These Are all Just Words. Erik, the man, is Much Greater Than Any Words Can Express...
Erik profoundly touched our lives. Mine and husband Joel's, over the years.
Blessed to have known him, to call him a friend and so thankful for all the lessons he (and Nancy) taught us.
He will continue to be a great example to us!
His amazing zest for life, passion to show the world to his children. What an Inspiration!
To teach to them see this world as it Really Is. Both, Broken and Beautiful!
He sees with such clarity. - Clairvoyant! and Yet Another word for 'The List'
- Teacher!!! (Have to add the word "Amazing" before "Teacher" To give it more Umph! - AMAZING TEACHER...
While I understand that the end of his suffering is a relief, many hearts ache over his physical departure.
To this- I'll quote "So Long, Farewell"... Till we meet again ;) ('The Sound Of Music')...
My kid, Olivia is dancing to our I Tune's that's blasting some cool Goody By Tunes. "Side to Side", is what Olivia is telling me to do and she's guiding my upper torso to sway, rhythmically. As I type, seated. "Dance!" She says...
I'll add- Yes. You Dance, in celebration of Erik's life while I finish using what words I have in attempt to express how important of a man he is in my life.
I was hopeful Oli would meet the Purdoms one day and that we'd all have a chance to re-connect. While in our new roles as parents. Evolving 'roles'...

THANK YOU ERIK for all the laughter, inspiration, support, and shared visions.
Thank you for being our friend.

Pelsue

2008-08-19T08:18:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) As in the one, the only Dave Pelsue, E's oft coworker and constant friend from the world of SoCal shoe design. I promised you I'd post it man, and it's good. Here you all go.

* * *
Beyond my reflex upon hearing the news of his passing, I wanted to share something deeper, to express in some small way, what Erik meant to me. I’m still at a loss for words as he’s been on my mind even more now that he’s gone.

I’ll never forget his introduction after I started at LA Gear almost 17 years ago. As I watched all these strangers stroll in for a big meeting in the main conference room, my head in my hands, elbows on the table… this huge rebel Jeremiah Johnson of a guy with cool glasses, beard and pony tail thrusts out his hand with a smile… “Hello! I’m Erik, you must be one of the new designers we hired” following a brief intro reply, he leans forward and whispers “ You know, I’d watch those elbows, you never know who’s ASS has been there!”

That was the first of many to come over the next 4.5 years there, most spent working directly with him. At one point he was also my boss though that title doesn’t do the business end of the relationship justice. I never worked harder nor did I feel more rewarded. At work or play he was always an awesome friend. Like the multitude of others that caught his sharp wit, deep understanding and insightfulness, I will be forever grateful of the times we shared, sweating, and playing… He was a younger man than I but full of wisdom seemingly far beyond his years. He wasn’t bashful in his optimism with regard to any challenge or obstacle. That’s just one of many gifts be bestowed upon me… He was my mentor to footwear and I do my best to give unto other new designers as he gave to me. E was taken way too soon, but with eternity being a much longer episode than mortal life on Earth, can we really be surprised the team on the other side punched his clock???

Forever yours Erik, signed Blister Gelcoat

erik, listen up

2008-08-17T20:52:00.000-07:00

Mom and Dad are talking to you -- sorry to cut in, Adam and Andrew . . .

FAREWELL AND GOD SPEED OUR WONDERFUL ERIK. WHEN WE SEE YOU AGAIN, WE WILL SMILE.....

MOM AND DAD

Good words from good friends

2008-08-16T15:44:00.001-07:00

Andree here. I'd like to post a couple of the wonderful things E's friends are sending in as tribute. . . so many, and I will do my best to do you justice. I'll start with Andy (and Amy) Collen:

Erik is a unique spirit that I feel I have captured a small sparkle
within my own spirit. At this moment I could only wish that I had
more time with him. However I am a half full kind of person and so was Erik.
I hold a place in my heart for a great fire pit and I will never let that erg go.
Erik to me was a bright shiny object that gave me the power to move on through life.
It is only in the last few months that I have really began to realize how much
someone can influence you. Erik was and still is a great spirit and
every once in a while I reach into that spirit.
So what little contact we had I must say that I cherish every minute
and will constantly revisit his spirit. I am not a religious person but I do believe in spirit
and I know that Erik is with us all. I am thankful for what little time I had with my big buddy.

Dreanna sent along a consoling verse from Mark Strand, Poet Laureate:

A Piece of the Storm
From the shadow of domes in the city of domes,
A snowflake, a blizzard of one, weightless, entered your room
And made its way to the arm of the chair where you, looking up
From your book, saw it the moment it landed. That's all
There was to it. No more than a solemn waking
To brevity, to the lifting and falling away of attention, swiftly,
A time between times, a flowerless funeral. No more than that
Except for the feeling that this piece of the storm,
Which turned into nothing before your eyes, would come back,
That someone years hence, sitting are you are now, might say:
"It's time. The air is ready. The sky has an opening."

And Chris Kuhr wants us to know of the effect E had on him:

I did not know Erik well, but worked with him on a few projects and he
definitely left his mark on me. He was such a positive, intelligent,
humorous, and genuine man. And because of this, I felt like I have known him
for much longer. I know I will miss him and try to keep his memory alive by
following some of the examples he has set in his life in my own. My heart
and prayers go out to his family and friends and hope that he makes as many
friends where ever he is now as he had when he was with us.
He will truly be missed.

* * *

Yes. He will that, friends. Thank you for everything.

Erik was and is

2008-08-15T15:40:00.000-07:00

(He's squinting into the sun here.)

Dear folks,

Andree here. All of you, all of us tried so hard, but Erik had other adventures to go after.

Erik left us at 7:22 am yesterday, after a brave fight but a peaceful passing. Nancy was with him, as were Mom and Dad (Terry and Donna); sister Brynn, brothers Sean and Hans, and myself; and Adam Baker, Andy Rotchford, Dean Paris, and Mike McGraw. He was home in Washougal.

These days you don't often get the privilege to send someone you love on their way on their terms. We had the chance to watch his face grow completely peaceful as he lay in bed, and hear birds sing and his hound dogs bark in the blue and golden morning. He's free now. And probably already putting together his next big thing.

Thank you, all of you, for the love, the support, the prayers, the emails. I mean to keep this blog going for a little while yet, so watch this space. It was my honor and privilege to do his for you, and I thank you for the support it has given me particularly.

Hi everybody

2008-08-13T07:37:00.001-07:00

(Andree here) Hello all those who love E,
Please forgive me for not posting for so long. We were in a place where we were fighting hard for a couple of victories. Because we are positive folks, we want to dwell on that side of things. Yet the fight has become very intense, and I ask you all for your prayers.
Thank you again for your generous love and care, which we feel so completely in your emails and wonderful photos.

Tent Shirt

2008-08-06T06:53:00.001-07:00

(Andree here) Marianne Kay wrote me this morning to send this photo along. Her message was such pure distillation-of-Erik that I must record it in its entirety:

Andree,
This is the tent that Erik built. (Were it not for him, the two people wearing the shirts might have been home in bed instead of selling goods from a tent at 6am on a field far from home. Thanks, Erik. We think.)
Please give him our love.
Marianne & Rick

That's okay, you two - someday he'll build you an even bigger tent. Hah!
He needs to get a little sleep though, first. He's got stuff on his mind. You think?
Will everybody reading this stop for a second, look at that photo of E over on the right there, and send him some slumber?
-- Oh you did? Good, thanks a lot!

Lovely ladies workin' the Shirt

2008-08-04T20:31:00.000-07:00

(A here) Rowen and Mia, and then Rowen in what we'd like to think is the latest in hot skatewear (Heelywear??).

Guys, rocks and trees. . . Buncombe Hollow

2008-08-04T20:16:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) The usual suspects (=Terry and Hans), with the addition of Bob, bitty little Ava, cousin Adam M, and the brutha from another mutha Andrew.

iamnotdeadyet gallery!

2008-08-02T07:19:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) Jimmy Tsen works with Bob and E. Here he is rocking the Shirt, set off fetchingly by his exquisite baby girl.

Some photos

2008-08-02T07:11:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) I'm happy to say the new email address accepts photos just fine. So here's a couple from auntie Heather on Nancy's side:

Lyric at Lake Merwin. Boy, what a refreshing looking lake!

Party time for Jaeger!

Try a lullaby; send pix here

2008-07-31T19:15:00.000-07:00

(Andree here.) No photos yet from the weekend - but if you have one, try thepetmuseum@gmail.com, and I'll see if I can get them off that account.

Erik's doing okay, but could sure stand a little good sleep. I ask you all for cosmic nap vibes so that E can take advantage of that great natural healer - you know the quote:

"Sleep that knits up the ravelled sleeve of care. . . sore labor's bath, Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course, Chief nourisher in life's feast" (Macbeth, of course)

The fate of photos

2008-07-29T06:57:00.000-07:00

Andree here. Hey gang, I have to find another email address for photo sending - Hotmail has decided to wipe out all of mine (in all my accounts), and won't accept any more. Apparently this is something it does occasionally. Lucky me. Stay tuned.

I wasn't around this past weekend as I had a wedding out of town to attend, but it was Jaeger's birthday and Erik was in good spirit and shape to enjoy it most of the day - oh come on! Like you can get all the way through a little kid party unscathed yourself!

Pix to come. Somehow. I hope.

Sheri at Swiss Army Vehicles sends pix of what life's all about

2008-07-24T06:20:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) Like watching young people discover the opposite sex, even if they climb a tree to get away from you.

Like boating on Beaver Lake on a gorgeous day.

Like the logistics of getting your monster boat to said lake.

Like Handsome and Snoopy being all fluffy and that.

Ahhh! Little things are the best.

Check this love!

2008-07-21T21:10:00.001-07:00

(Andree here) Letters, we get letters. And photos. Like George Conrad's hot tip that even Batman can't afford fuel these days (above). . .

. . . and buddy Les and his son, rocking the iamnotdeadyet wear as well as some healthful exercise.

And from Dad, a mighty moue from Easter Island:

Hey Sheri, you and Handsome are going to be posted tomorrow or Wednesday. So everybody check back for more good stuff.

Da boys.

2008-07-21T12:59:00.000-07:00

(Andree here, pic sent by brother Sean. It's been one of his faves for a while.)

New post tomorrow

2008-07-20T20:51:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) Hey howdy, extended fam of those who be lovin' them some Erik. I have been slammed and/or on the road, but you need posts and I need to get them to ya. I can surely tell you that I spent time with him and the gang yesterday, and truly he looked quite improved this weekend. He is really enjoying that sauna and salty pool (oh yes, it's a super saline pooly float situation), and also took good comfort from a visit by Dr. and Mrs. Zeff.

So many of you sent great stuff! Now if only I could retrieve some of those pix, since Hotmail is getting squirrely on me. Hang tight.

Eggers seems to have started a transatlantic Erik fanclub

2008-07-16T06:33:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) Eggers sent this along and writes,
"At the Prince Bonaparte Pub in Notting Hill. Some blokes just take it way too far."
Seriously, that isn't Erik.

Folks - I am way behind on my blogging and will play catchup as I can. George C - some great stuff. Patrick B., loved your message and will point it E's way. Hi Tim and Debbie!

This past weekend we were overjoyed to get a visit from Adam Baker and a driveby from Andy and Amy. E was looking a bit better and in decent spirits, I'm happy to say, and enjoying his nifty new pool.

Rapa Nui

2008-07-12T13:33:00.001-07:00

(Andree here) Also known as Easter Island: another pic from Dad. E and Mom.

Erik's doing a bit better these days, though still much in need of rest. I'm off here to head south and scope the situation a little closer. Thank you all for the emails and thoughts that come daily! And forgive me for not being able this week to get back to you as promptly as I would like. Every email is read and reported on.

Weekend pix, courtesy of Heather O.

2008-07-09T07:39:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) Oh yeah - here's the sauna and the pool.

Bat fortune

2008-07-06T20:33:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) Hi everybody, forgive my lack of post for the past few, for I was down in Battle Ground and Washougal seeing how Erik was after his Native Indian retreat. He -- and Nancy, don't forget! -- continue to fight, and found deep sustenance and consolation in the powerful medicine of the retreat. Erik seems to have been particularly moved by the dancers who fasted for 4 days. I have always found the power of the ascetic way compelling regardless of its originating culture; there are some things we cannot know until we have driven ourselves to the very brink.

Oh and there's been a number of personalized flythroughs by bats in and around E's house, lately.

When my parents told me that I about leaped from my chair. You see, in the Chinese tradition, bats are good fortune indeed, and a harbinger of longevity as well. (What could be better? Maybe a dragon with an Aladdin's lamp and a three-olive martini, but I don't think we'll get one of those.) One bat visited while I was there. I saw it. We were trying to persuade it back outside where it could eat bugs and bring more luck, and after about three rounds of the kitchen (we were on the floor) it fluttered out the kitchen window. We told Erik.

Something up there wants Erik to take heart and it's making no bones about it.

Puppy news: The puppy's name is Cub!

Lyric interprets the landscape

2008-07-03T06:45:00.001-07:00

(Andree here) Lyric's Auntie Heather took these photos of Lyric interacting with the outdoors in a very Andy Goldsworthy way....

(Top) Getting eaten by a bush. Not that Andy Goldsworthy (British sculptor) does that, but it's cool.
This is more like it.

Erik's puppy

2008-07-01T19:33:00.000-07:00

Andree here, looking forward to when he comes home and names this little niblet.

Big guy in a big world: More Chile pix

2008-07-01T07:27:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) - Above: E and the 'rents in the Beagle Channel.

Above: Up the Beagle Channel.

Torres del Paine, Chile.

MV bahia Azul-Beagle Channel

Erik and Mom (Donna), Punta Arena, Chile.

Oh look, it's the chocolate aisle. How did that happen.

Erik and family-Torres del Paine Patagonia

Hey everybody,

As we speak E and Nancy are enjoying some very special attention at a Native American spiritual retreat. We'll see them in a couple days; meanwhile they are getting a break from some of the many cares that naturally come with this kind of situation. Send them good wishes.

Did you guys chew your way through Chile/Argentina? Just asking.

2008-06-26T20:12:00.001-07:00

(Andree here, photo from Dad) Family dinner, Ushuaia, Argentina, Terra del fuego country.

Erik has had a couple of tough days, I won't lie to you. But his answer to this? Got himself a puppy. Take THAT, gloom merchants! Stay tuned for a photo of the new family member as soon as I get one.

And Bivens? THE Bill Bivens? Excellent to hear from you. What's new?

Sometimes life is like a mop.

2008-06-24T20:36:00.000-07:00

Andree here. One of my friends at work recently lent me the '80s movie UHF, starring Weird Al Yankovic and a pre-Seinfeld Michael Richards. It's Richards who carries the scene I'm going to try to embed below, in which he explains the great similarities (especially lately) between life and a raggy cleansing implement. . .

More Chile: beaver and stuff.

2008-06-24T07:19:00.000-07:00

Andree here. Couple more snaps from the Chile trip here, courtesy of Dad:

Wine tasting. Including the kids!

Dad calls this one "Erik eats beaver, Puntas Arenas, Tierra del Fuego." (I wasn't looking very carefully just now and thought, What's the roundish thing, the TAIL!? I think it's zucchini.)

Maatita remembers some fast food

2008-06-22T21:05:00.000-07:00

(Andree here - got this from Ron Maatita yesterday. )

Hey Andree,

I've finally been able to sort through my pic archives. This is my favorite picture of me and Erik. Shot on Catalina island in early '96, it's a beautiful example of a life full of interesting pursuits.

Having just earned his pilots license we'd occasionally skip out for a flight. On this particular day, the inspiration for product design was running on empty. Time for a recharge,...stimulation, inspiration!

We got a plane from the local flight school and headed out over the Pacific. Left turn at the coastline, permission to fly through class B airspace (over and West of LAX) and nothing but clouds ahead of us. The sight of a fully loaded jumbo jet climbing out below you is rare and incredible. On any other day Catalina would sit in front of us like a massive dinosaur turd in the pool. Not the case today. I'd accompanied Erik on only a handful of flights by then, but never one where we couldn't see where we were going. Beads of sweat formed on my upper lip as my voice crackled over the headset, "You sure about this?", I asked nervously. He smiled back at me, pointed at the instrument cluster and showed me that we were locked onto Catalina's VOR ( Catalina's navigational signal). 15 minutes later we were pushing this plane into it's parking spot at the Catalina Airport. With Buffalo burgers on our agendas, we stopped to think of all the suckers back at the office who were either brown baggin' it or crossing Ocean Park Blvd. for a Subway. We paused and laughed heartily at them all. Cory McCullough captured the shot of my professional lifetime. Me and my pal, living the life,...like Indy and Short-Round on another death-defying adventure.

This picture has been with me on every office I've inhabited since going back in-house in '01. (Note from Andree: Yeah, I've seen in it a few of OURS, too, bro.) I look at it every day as I leave my office for Subway. Time for me to go back and get that pilots license I suppose.

bruce beck says

2008-06-21T08:08:00.000-07:00

(Andree here: Below, a note from Bruce saying things with which I totally agree.)
* * *

Hi:
I have not sent Erik a card of any sort. As far as I'm concerned he is not going anywhere.
When I found out about the situation I called immediately right after Hans told me not to. Told Erik about a friend of mine who 8 years ago was diagnosed with Hodgekins lymphoma. The aspect of seeing wheather the treatment would kill him before the cancer did was not inspiring to him so he made the choice to go with alternative treatments only. No chemo, No radiation.
He is now 67 years old and healthy as a krout horse. I told my little story to inspire him. Then I proceeded to bury poor Nancy with a ton of information and resorces for more information. I have also offered vacation time to go up and help with whatever. Everyone who looks at this blog I'm sure is doing what they can do to pitch in in any way they can.
Dean you remember that owl on your back? A lot of people have Erik's back in a very positive way.
Beck

DeanMan chimes

2008-06-19T20:16:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) Dean. That's all I gots to say. Read him below.
* * *
Earthquakes. Tsunamis. Tornaders, menaces of nature in general; nyah, Biiiig Deallll. Plagues, Pollution,Famines, Genocides, Terrorism, don't give a ripsnort. Oil Crisis? Global Warming? Al Gore, you Putz, take yer global warming crisis, roll it up real tight, and cram it up your little squirrel's puckered fannygasket. CAN'T YOU SEE MY BUDDY ERIK IS IN TROUBLE?!?!

Jackasses.

I think in reality, less Americans were actually diagnosed with the dreaded Bird Flu than reported cases of what Erik's got. WTF is wrong with you people!??!

See, I feel this way because in of our wacky circle of friends and family, and our little tribe of mutant buddies, Erik is a pretty important guy, sort of a hub. So, giant asteroids crashing into Jupiter is a major cosmic event, but this li'l crisis is way-the-F bigger. He's kind of our tribal leader. I and many of us often say, in the middle of certain conundrums,"What would Erik and Nancy do?". He and Nancy have their shizzle dialed in better than anyone, so there's the role model thing not just for the kids in their life, but for all of us out here too.

Out of all my crazy stories and tales, Erik is in about 90% of 'em. Back long ago in high school, I was driving the gang around, looking for a party in the middle of nowhere. I unwittingly saved our lives by slowing down right before a car blew through an intersection and it would have creamed us, it was going about 90.

Maybe the psychic powers kicked at the right time so I could avoid that. Now while I think we'd all throw ourselves in front of a bus to save each other's lives, Erik's new situation isn't so simple. The Superhero part of me wants to drop everything and beat up doctors that aren't trying hard enough or whatever, but actually the network of family and friends is better than anyone else's in the world. That's what is going to push him through this.

That's Gold. GOLD!

I haven't written anything here 'till now, mostly because I'm still stunned and in a stupor about all this. I think I'm actually having real, physical sympathy pains also. So everyone out there reading this, keep him laughing; as he's said, He's not dead yet. None of us are! Now get to work making his life easier. Below is the earliest photo I could find of me and Erik together, circa 1983 maybe? We're posing for a yearbook picture, analyzing a press in McNabb's print shop. I'll post more as I find'm.

All this recent talk about Grizzlies and Jack Black makes me think of the Friendship Song:

Friendship is rare,
Do you know what I'm sayin' to you?
Friendship is rare.
My derriere,
When you find out much later
That they don't really care.
It's rare to me, can't you see?
It's rare to me, can't you see?
Oh shit there's a bear,
Could you hand me that shotgun buddy,
Also that chair?
We're fighting a bear
Now your life's in grave danger
And you don't even care.
It's rare to me, can't you see?
It's rare to me, can't you see?
It's rare to me,
Say a prayer for me,
'Cause it's rare to be In Tenacious D.

Ron Maatita says

2008-06-18T18:16:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) Here's a lovely message from Ron Maatita -- and his daughter Bailey.

Hi Andree, I just wanted to take the time to share my daughter's performance dedication to Erik.

Bailey spent a good chunk of her first year on earth periodically accompanying me to the Chatsworth office of Purdom Footwear Design. Her mother, Flossie, worked early mornings across the valley at (Jim Agnew and Bob Burns') Edgequest and would pick her up from PFD by 11am or so. Bailey shared in just a bit of the hectic life at PFD....before speaking her first word.

She is now 9 years old and is very active in children's community theatre. She's done 8 plays thus far. Each play requires months of rehearsal and commitment to learning songs, dances....and songs while dancing. I'm very proud of the tenacity and dedication she displays while taking on the challenge of each new play.

Bailey has memory of Erik in her young little brain and understands how dear he is to our family. She also understands that he's got a fight on his hands. She took it upon herself to bring him into her world by dedicating her performance in her program bio. This play was enjoyed by many in the community and her dedication was read by all who took the time to read it.....

Best,Ron

thinking outside the . . . pump

2008-06-17T19:18:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) Bruce Beck dropped a line with this evocative photo and a short message:

This lonely gas pump is a great metaphor for just how quickly things in life can change. The begining of last year gas was 2.75 and suv sales were good. What a difference a year makes. The video about what BMW is just thinking about is sitting in my driveway. Meet my smart car. A structural high carbon steel space frame{The black part] and plastic body panels in silver. These have been built since 1997. I guess it takes a while for some people to catch on.

Here's Bruce's smart car:

How quickly things change, indeed. And good to see movement away from what is not optimal, to choices and abilities that are much more sustainable and optimal. It's like our search for what will do best by E - a cancer "smart car"!

¡Que choro!

2008-06-15T21:12:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) I understand that's Chilean slang for "entertaining, worthy of attention." And what could be more so than two mighty dudes and a cardboard cutout of Che Guevara?

I'm right, right?
By the way, did you know Che Guevara was of Basque and Irish descent? God Almighty, what a mix. If you would like to learn more about him try this (Wikipedia).

Here's an adventure snap from Chile

2008-06-13T12:23:00.000-07:00

(Andree here, photo from Dad) Everybody knows Mom, Dad, E, Nancy and the kids went to Chile in December, right? Here's a photo of the ferry crew and passengers at the end of the trip up the Beagle Channel and Magellan Straits to Puntas Arena, Chile.E is center back. Mom and Dad, back row, 6 and 7 from R. Nancy and the kids, next to E. We might get some more of these snaps - they're wild stuff.

the continuing sauna

2008-06-13T07:24:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) No, I didn't mean "saga." The weather hasn't made it any easier to get the sauna done, so a dry weekend would be just the thing - not to mention Erik enjoys the sun therapy when he can undertake it.

Dave Pelsue (hey there Dave), knowing E's interest in all things good and original in design, sent along a most fascinating video link on BMW's newest idea - let's just say a car that weighs less probably uses less petrol. And apropos of E's situation he adds, "Zero in the artillery and commence FIRE! Los Los Los!!!" Ha ha, Pelsue! (Wait - weren't you the guy who drew The Alien as Santa one year for your Christmas card?)

Tonight when I chase the dragon*....I will run his flammable derriere over with a Pinz.

2008-06-10T20:56:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) Ah, opiates. Useful and yet with side effects that mildly irritate, like a bit role in The Office, I suppose.

See - E had a recurrence of "ascites" or the accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity. Happens a bit with folks in his situation. It's gone now thanks to a doctor who was happy to help it find exit a couple days ago, so E is more comfortable now and not feeling quite so bloaty.
Now he just has to navigate some of the side effects of his opiate-based painkiller, but cessation from pain is a certain value of itself.

*It's a Steely Dan reference.
"Tonight when I chase the dragon/The water will change to cherry wine/And the silver will turn to gold/Time out of mind." Chase the dragon = smoke opium. I don't think the opioid family's anywhere near as fun in real life as that sounds. Didn't you see Trainspotting? Ew.

If 6 was 9

2008-06-09T19:13:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) . . . then I'd have gotten Nancy's birthday right. But noooo, I honestly thought it was today. It isn't. It was Friday. I suck.
I sent a card. It's late too.
But it's never too late to send a special thought for Nancy, the power behind the mouse, the mailings, the motivation. She's cataloging every possibility and logging every phone call to the health care system. She is really, really good at that. She is Erik's first line of defense. Send up big respect for Nancy as she fights at Erik's side.

Meanwhile - as we all wait for the next step - did you all see Gregory's comment under the "Erik says" post? He's quoted some lyrics to uplift us:

Don't worry about a thing

'Cause every little thing gonna be all right

Singin': "Don't worry about a thing

'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"

Rise up this mornin'

Smiled with the risin' sun

Three little birds

Pitch by my doorstep

Singin' sweet songs

Of melodies pure and true

Sayin' "This is my message to you-ou-ou:"

Singin': "Don't worry 'bout a thing

'Cause every little thing gonna be all right."

Singin': "Don't worry don't worry 'bout a thing

'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"

Thanks, Gregory!

Andy and Amy say

2008-06-05T13:41:00.000-07:00

(Andree here) A & A Collen, good sports and great friends, shot us a warm message for posting. So please enjoy this with us . . .

* * *

Hey there Purdom Family and that means Erik too.

I know you have some idea of how much you guys mean to Amy and I. So! I just wanted to say that over the years you meet a bunch of people in one door and out the other. Every once in a while a really cool person comes along. You know someone you want to hang on to. This is where you guys all come in. I was introduced to Erik through our Jack Black man of hour the almighty "Dean Paris". Over the years Erik has introduced us to most of his family and in some strange way have become the alley cat that swings by the front door for the Holiday bowl of milk. Well you know what I mean. Over the years I have grown to almost feel as through both Amy and I have become adopted by this wild bunch. In my world things get crazy and I have always found Erik and Nancy to fall back on for those "Oh don't worry it's not that hard....why we dealt with a crew of over 1400 employees." All of a sudden with a few quick retorts from Erik Von Inspiration and we are back off to the race tracks. I want to say thanks so much for being there and I know that both Amy and I are there for you whatever your needs may be. Right back at you Cowboy! This reminds me of one of my childhood quotes from the book Illusions.

The Bond that links your true family

is not one of blood, but

of respect and joy in

each other's life.

Rarely do members

of one family grow up

under the same

roof.

Welcome to the family... No lets go kick some Cancer ASS!

A & A