happy birthday e, from sean

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!

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

(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

(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

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

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

Thank Brynn for these. . . and enjoy.

november

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

(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"

(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