Oh my dear Russ ... how I will miss your musings, our heart to heart chats about life and our laughter and tears remembering the days of our youth.

I had the pleasure of meeting Russ whe he moved from Chatham to Cambridge, Ontario.  We both attended the same high school in Galt, not far from his parents gorgeous Tudor style home located on the banks of the Grand River and right beside the Tudor Tavern.  The Tudor Tavern by the way was host to many of the top bands of the day.  We all thought that you had the best of both worlds!

I have many memories of youthful summer days at Emerald Lake, hanging out in Forbes Park in Hespeler and nights of bush parties along the Speed River.  Those were magical times and times which had a huge influence on molding who we were to become.

Then.... you moved away to Baton Rouge, Louisianna and I never saw you again.  We kept in touch for awhile through letters and then as usually happens, we went on with our separate lives.  You crossed my mind many times throughout the years, wondering what had become of you and hoping you were safe.  There are some people in life that you just never forget and you my dear, are one of these.

About five years ago, with the help of your brother Ed, we reconnected on facebook and we commenced sharing our lives again through the internet, letters and calls.  I told you of my family and our old friends, you told me of your stone projects, your accomplishments and your struggles and even calling me to play guitar over the phone.

I thank God that I got to know you again ...the good times, the struggles and the pain ... and at the end of the day, you were a good man.  You were not perfect by any means but your intentions were good, your heart was pure and you loved hard with everything you had and because of these things ... you were worth it ... always have been and always will be.

I recenlty acquired a painting of downtown Hespeler.  I was looking at the painting last night and I realized that the locaton of the painting subject is exactly where I last saw you ... coincidence my friend, I think not ... it gives me comfort and makes me smile.

For your family, friends and loved ones left behind, I wish to share a poem that I have always loved ...

                                                                   "What is Dying?"

I am standing on the sea shore.  A ship sails and spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the ocean.  She is an object of beauty and I stand watching her till at last she fades on the horizon, and someone at my side says, "She is gone" ... Gone where?  Gone from my sight, that is all; she is just as large in the masts, hull and spars as she was when I last saw her, and just as able to bear her load of living freight to its destination.

The diminished size and total loss of sight is in me, not her; and just at the moment when someone at my side says "She is gone", there are others who are watching her coming, and other voices take up a loud glad shout, "There she comes!", and that is Dying.

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Bless you Russ ... til we meet again my friend oxo