a new friend: brett

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:
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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.

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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...