ode to erik, by dad

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

(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

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

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

(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

(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

words from pelsue

(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

(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

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