Into the Fire

In Memory of My Friend Rick . . . 

My friend Rick . . . We met in my first year at the University of Washington. My two friends and I used to hang out between classes in the Hub pretending or attempting to study. The lighting was dimmed, it seemed "cool", and there were these cute guys who also congregated in there. Rick was one of those guys. Long story short, over time we all met each other and became friends during that turbulent time of '66 and the summer of '67.

Rick was and still is a genius on the piano. He composed two songs that I knew of during that tumultuous time. One a tribute to our friend Ron, a drummer and photographer, and another a tribute to me. The title of Ron's was "Ronaldo's Theme", and mine was called "Gallop". How I wish I had a recording of it. I'm sure it's long gone buried under layers and layers of old memories and forgotten melodies. I loved his work.

I remember riding in Rick's old green turtle-shaped Volvo named Spencer. I could always depend on Rick for wit, humor, kindness, talent, intelligence delivered in a practical format, and basic sensibility in totally un-sensible times. From what I gather, he hasn't changed much. I haven't spoken to him in over 20 years.

My first year on the racetrack he and some of our friends came down to the racetrack to visit me at the barn where I worked. I remember a grey filly I took care of named Spotted Lady stepped on his foot. He stood there in pain, helpless, not knowing what to do. Believe me, if you've never been stepped on by a horse with shoes on, you don't want that kind of pain. He was totally brave about it. 

Just a short time ago I found Rick on Facebook and felt overjoyed because of the emotions of those old memories. I didn't know much about him other than he'd married and had a son. Things changed from that last time we'd gathered at our mutual friend's. But he still "sounded" like Rick. And though I learned we had chosen different ideologies, he would always be the same Rick to me.

He said he'd be willing to update his lifestory, but he'd been experiencing some health issues and would get back to me when he felt better. Yesterday he told me he has cancer* and is undergoing different treatments for it. No one wants to hear that report.

*Rick passed away from that cancer, but I arranged to see him before he left this earth. He allowed me to pray for him and we hugged before I departed. 

Rick, I love you, my friend.

Father, thank you for the friendships that still remind us of the wonder of friends from times past. We never lose that love for them. Help us all to get through losing them, and may we never stop praying for them before they leave this earth. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.