A New Start

I started this blog a few months ago as an assignment for an online class during which I supposed to learn 23 things. Life intervened and i think I made it through 17 or 18 things before I dropped out. Now I’m converting this blog to a personal one so all the class assignments have been deleted and you will be reading about things that are important to me...things like horses, quilting, gardening, books, friends and travel. The last 2 are today’s subject.

I am currently in Ithaca, New York, my hometown. I stayed here and attended Ithaca College where I had the fortune to meet a truly Big Chill-esque group of friends. Most of us do not see each other very often but when we do reconnect it is like we’ve never been apart. We’re scattered across the country now but still manage to stay in touch.

We are gathering here this weekend for a memorial service celebrating the life of JBH. John was the most intriguing and unique individual. My words cannot do justice to all that he was and did so I will leave it to others. Here is the link to his obituary (written by long-time colleague David Wickstrom) from the Ithaca Journal JBH OBITUARY. And here is the link to the absolutely perfect tribute Keith Olberman broadcast on his CountDown show shortly after JBH’s passing in March OLBERMAN TRIBUTE.

I had the good fortune to work with JBH at Karl Jaentsch VW Repair in the mid-70s. JBH arrived there with some skills but learned so much more than mechanics from Karl. I’d like to think a bit of that German discipline found its way into John’s life but not so much as to dampen his joie de vivre. For several years, John would welcome my invitations to a home cooked meal at whatever holiday was at hand. Once we both moved on to other jobs, we would still gather when college friends would visit.

The last time I saw John was one summer before he moved to Virginia. He was working at the Cornell Sailing club and I met him there to catch up on life. Ever time I saw him after a period of time it seemed as if he was into something new. That was his natural curiosity and as an “information professional” I can certainly understand that. One of our friends points out a great enigma about John - as curious as he was and as technology-minded as he was, he never really took to using a computer much. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Rest in peace, JBH.

On a brief side note: It was a terrific day yesterday on the website where I hang out and try to make a difference for horses http://www.alexbrownracing.com. Three - count ‘em 3 - thoroughbreds were taken off the track and retired to start their new lives, one the winner of almost a million dollars!!! My sincere congratulations to all involved in these life-changing moves!