Speaking of Sam's Facebook..

I had an interesting and unexpected call from Elizabeth Davis yesterday. She had been looking at Sam's Facebook and specifically looking at his photo album "My Swan Song". She asked me if it would be possible to use those pictures in some kind of gallery showing that she would do the work of putting together. She has a lot of connections to make it happen (in Deep Ellum most likely), and would be willing to do so - and would like to make the show a benefit for one of the various suicide prevention groups (any specific suggestions there might be helpful). Anyway, she called me because she didn't want to step on any toes - I talked to Rabbit before posting this, and he and I both think this would be a really cool idea.

I gave Rabbit her number, and of course she (or somebody) will need to talk to Mari and Chris about the idea. I just wanted to post so people can be aware of this plan, express support or voice concern about it, or volunteer to help out or involve yourself somehow. If this gets off the ground I'll of course be attending, as I hope most of us that can feasibly do so will. So.. thoughts?

japanese maple

i took these pictures the other day of sam's tree. it was windy so the tree looks lopsided but it's not. it's really helthy, and growing more and more bright red and maroon leaves all the time.

Samwise

Did Sam die on the 19th? If so, what are we doing to remember him? I propose that everyone make sure that their tattoo is visible all day long. Like, roll up your jeans, cut a hole in your shirt, whatever you have to do, just wear that shit like a badge of honor.

As I'm currently living in the future, I'll be rocking the 1/2 pant leg rolled up look for two days. My 19th and yours.

I'm going sand tobogganing at Cape Reinga, NZ.

I hope that there is a Great Party in Nac.
I hope that when you play wizard that someone cheats as much as I did at the last party I was at.
I hope that the tree is, dead or alive, revered.
I hope there is much cooking in his honor.
I hope you email his mom, dad and brother. As much as we miss him, don't forget their place.
I hope everyone changes their facebook page to a picture of him, or him and you.

This was one of the few dates that I knew would be hard for me to be away for.

reading and ego-entrism

do you apply most things you read to your own life? (brian, i know you don't read.. you can skip this, or insert "watch" and "movie" for "read" and "books")
i do. maybe this is good, and helps me process information/plots, and also my own feelings/happening, and maybe it's bad, and keeps me from delving into other characters instead of "losing myself on books" which is i think the point of some books. and movies.
anyway. i just finished reading the poisonwood bible and it made me think of sam a lot. first of all, it criticizes religion a lot, which obviously sam was down with. secondly, the loss of a character and the reaction of others (no i'm not giving anything away- it's mentioned pretty early on) was remarkably similar in many ways to my experience with sam's death. mostly the part where they have to tell another character about it. granted, it was in africa. and the person did not die in nearly the same way. but still. i think death and the reactions to it are pretty universal. they differ in manifestation but not really in the basics.
i know this is vague, but i think everyone should read the book and i don't want to give it away. and i know it's sad, but i have come to the conclusion that i should be less afraid to make people feel sad when i talk about it because i effing need to talk about it. anyway, i kind of had to get that out, because i finished the book and had to go directly to class and take a quiz so it wasn't really enough processing time.
thanks.

Corespondence

I've already told a few of you, but I thought I would share an email thread between Mari (Sam's mom) and myself. I don't think she would mind my sharing it, and I know she would appreciate emails or facebook posts.
(Start with the bottom email and work up.)

Josephine,

Thank you so much for your kind words.
I am glad I am here to help my mother, but can't wait to go home.
I will go home on 9/9, and 1 month is a long time to be away from home.

Hope your classes are going well, and please send all my love to everybody!

Love
Mari

Mari Howlett (Colquitt) marihowlett@hotmail.com

---

Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:34:09 -0500
From: josephine.bibby@gmail.com
To: marihowlett@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: Sending Hi from Japan


Mari,
I am so sorry to hear about your father. I know that even when a loved one has been sick, it is so hard to lose them. Know that we in Nacogdoches are thinking of you and your family.
I'm counting on next year to be better than this one at least.
Love, Josephine

On Fri, Aug 22, 2008 at 9:52 AM, Mari Howlett <marihowlett@hotmail.com> wrote:
Josephine,

I am sending this to you from Japan.
It's so good to hear from you.
I hope all is well with you and everybody.

Unfortunately, my father died on 8/7 and I am here since 8/10 to help my mother.
I will go home on 9/9.
My father had been ill for a long time and it was not a surprise to any of us.
All the same, this has been a sad year for us.

Izumi has gone off to A & M a week ago and I am hoping he is doing OK.
I know it's a big change for him, and am very excited for him too.

Please send all my love to everybody.

Love
Mari