First Anniversary — March 26, 2010

Today is the first anniversary of Razz's death. I hope all readers of this blog will take a moment to remember how much joy he shared with us and how bravely he dealt with his cancer. Those who believe in such things — as I do — will probably want to offer a prayer for him.

If you're finding this blog for the first time, check out his own blog, doinmeheadin, to see who he was. I'm sure you will be as captivated as I was by the charming personality he exhibited there.

to our new followers

I see by the dashboard that we have two new followers, Tres Iqus(john) and Jose A. This blog tells you some things about Razz, as he called himself in blogging, or Chris, as we learned his real name was. Fortunately, his own blog, doinmeheadin, has been left up. You can read it for yourselves and see what a remarkable young man he was, how he loved his friends and how they loved him, what a strong spirit he had. There are a couple of pictures as well, but never a complete one of his face while he was blogging. But from what's there, you can also see how good-looking he was.


He did censor a few of his posts. He did not want to tell us how serious his illness was and removed some of the parts where he let us know how serious things had become.


But I'm sure you'll appreciate what an uncommon person he was and what a wonderful friend. Please add your comments, if you care to. I'm sure we'd all be happy to know that he still touches people.

the fallen

it's hard to believe, but it's six months (today) since Razz died.

i'd been wondering how to mark the occasion and a few days ago i heard a really nice piece of music when my ipod shuffled on to it.

i've made a slideshow using that music and a bunch of photos i took when i was coincidentally in Brighton on the weekend that the news broke. i posted a couple of those photos on my post Remembering Razz, back in April.

i hope you like the music.

thanks
torchy

[>_<]

June 26 — 90th Day

In my previous post I stated that it used to be customary to offer Masses on the 30th and 90th days after death or burial. I was correct about the 30th day, but I find no reference to the 90th day in my 1952 missal. Nevertheless, since torchy! reminded me of what I had said, here is a prayer for Razz.

Lord, may our prayers come before you and lead Chris your servant to eternal joy. You created him in your image and made him your son. In your mercy now welcome him to a place in your kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

We remember his hearty joy in living, and hope that it continues in a life beyond the one we see. 

March 26 - April 26

It used to be customary in the Catholic Church to offer a Mass for someone who had died 30 days after the death or the funeral (called a "Month's Mind), 90 days after, and a year after. I understand there is something similar in Jewish practice, at least as far as the month and the"Jahrzeit" (sorry, I don't know the Yiddish spelling).

So for Chris's Month's Mind, here's a prayer from the Catholic funeral liturgy. Lord God, source and destiny of our lives, in your loving providence you gave us Chris to grow in wisdom, age, and grace. Now you have called him to yourself. As we grieve over the loss of one so young, we seek to understand your purpose. Draw him to yourself and give him full stature in Christ. May he stand with all the angels and saints, who know your love and praise your saving will. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

To Razz - Words Unsaid

I was a "late-comer" to Razz's blog, Doin me head in. I knew him less well than many other bloggers. While I read every post and every post is still stored in my Google Reader, I never had the honor of chatting with him online or via email.

There are words unsaid - by me and by others. And Razz, I found the following poem you wrote (posted on Oct. 12, 2008) - I hope you don't mind that I re-post it as well as the pics:

-----
Words Unsaid

I had a million thoughts running through my head
thinking about all the words we left unsaid
somewhere in the middle of horizon's end
I'm standing all alone while my heart endlessly bled.

All the thoughts of heaven are hanging on me tonight
while the beautiful hour is nearing its final end.
Now alone with my pain and ghostly regrets
the only words left - are the words unsaid.

There's a part of us that is bound forever
by the feelings we shared every time we kissed
like a leaf swept upwards by the horizon's wind
I am floating, rising higher, much higher than I've ever been.

But now you're gone enwrapped by hypnotic grace
I fall away from you, on this rock, that's become my place
cursing life, repenting, regretting with every tear I shed
to my soul 'tis my prison I share with words left unsaid.
-----
I don't know who you wrote that poem for - if you wrote it for anyone in particular at all - but I can say that there are many words left unsaid by all of us. I would like to say that I admired your spirit and the life you infused into your posts. It lingers within, we can still feel your living words. Through your blog you have opened a window to your world, and you have touched and influenced the lives of so many. Can you even count them all? Let me show you (though inevitably I've missed a few):

AJ: Goodbye Razz
Col: Farewell to Razz!
Doug: Razz
E: Razz, Remembered
gay+teen+sydneysider: dear razz
goleftatthefork: Remembrance
Highwayman: Remembering a Brother Blogger
Jay.osa: To a friend lost
Ken: comfort ............ for Chris
Lunatic Ninja: Doin' Me Head In
Naturgesetz: Razz; In Memoriam: Razz
Seth: Loss of Fellow Blogger...
Sethy: It's always a sad thing
Shane: Thank you and goodbye Razz
Steevo: Fond Farewell to Razz
Torchy!: Remembering Razz

I hope one day I will feel I've lived the perfect life as you described it. And as you said in this post, "[W]hatever is beyond death, may we all get the version that we wish for." May your ashes be scattered to the winds in the places most dear to you and your family and close friends.

Farewell Razz (Chris), you are never forgotten. March 26, 2009.
In Memory Of Razz

to a friend lost

What more can be said that has not already been said by others in our group.

We will all miss Razz’s lust for life, his spirit, and how he shared his life with us. We will miss his comments, posts, emails, and the late night chats.

I will miss him, be safe...

Jay.osa