Posts: 33,935
Threads: 2,551
Joined: Oct 2005
Reputation:
3
10-12-2018, 02:28 PM
(This post was last modified: 10-18-2018, 12:25 AM by Drunk Monk.)
Katie was a very close friend, a psych nurse that I met through Rock Med, a true Deadhead despite being in her late 30s and not really been Jerryed ever. Known as Nurse Rainbow in our circles, she always wore the loudest tie-dyes.
We hung together outside of RM too. We spent a weekend at a winery with her and her husband Brian and some other RMers. We also went to Fare the Well in Chicago together and wound up hanging in their hotel room with some others after one of the shows. Brian and Katie were the only friends of mine that showed up for the talk I gave at the Museum of Oakland.
I just got word from Brian. She ODed. I don't know the details. I didn't even know she was in that deep. She always had it together, although there was one night I spent counseling her over phone and text after one of her longtime patients shot himself to death while she was counseling him on the phone a few years ago. She was horribly shaken by that - who wouldn't be? Now I'm horribly shaken. Didn't see this one coming at all.
I'm absolutely heartbroken.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
Posts: 4,082
Threads: 681
Joined: Oct 2005
Reputation:
0
Wow. Sorry to hear about this.
A rough year.
I'm nobody's pony.
Posts: 6,591
Threads: 169
Joined: Oct 2005
Reputation:
0
I’m so sorry for your loss.
In the Tudor Period, Fencing Masters were classified in the Vagrancy Laws along with Actors, Gypsys, Vagabonds, Sturdy Rogues, and the owners of performing bears.
Posts: 33,935
Threads: 2,551
Joined: Oct 2005
Reputation:
3
10-18-2018, 12:10 AM
(This post was last modified: 10-18-2018, 12:24 AM by Drunk Monk.)
Today was Katie’s 40th so we threw a rainbow-filled party at Old Kan’s brewery. Bud light and four roses bourbon was brought in (Katie’s favs - she had horrible taste in drinks) along with so much rainbow candy, rainbow cakes, Mac & cheese, tater tots, a diabetic overdose plus burgers. There were joints passed outside at a table until the waitress told us to move to the loading dock, which had nicer tables and decor - Oakland smoking section. I lost it when we all sang happy birthday. I’ve been too preoccupied to grieve. Lots of old friends, lots of tie dye. Brian, her widower, is soldiering onward and we are all surrounding him, making sure he’s not alone for a while. I got cornered by a few RM peeps who wanted to whine about the state of Rock to me as if I gave a rats ass about their issues. It’s volunteer, for goodness sake. If you don’t like it, don’t volunteer. But overall, a lovely evening - just like Katie to throw such a colorful party from beyond her grave.
Now I’m back at our Fremont house which is empty and in shambles from our last tenants. I brought an air mattress and a sleeping bag. Weird to be here again. What a draining night.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
Posts: 15,878
Threads: 978
Joined: Jan 2016
Reputation:
1
Stay strong, my friend.
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm
Posts: 33,935
Threads: 2,551
Joined: Oct 2005
Reputation:
3
I’m good. This one is just so unjust. And I grow weary of all the world’s injustices lately.
Hey! I’m at Denny’s! Just like old times, Greg. Except now Denny’s really sucks and it’s super expensive for what you get. There’s nothing open in Fremont except for this, a few old skool donut shops, & starsucks.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
Posts: 15,878
Threads: 978
Joined: Jan 2016
Reputation:
1
Going to Denney's just depresses me and I avoid it all costs. The last time I was in one was in Moab because it was the only restaurant open. It shouldn't have been.
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm
Posts: 33,935
Threads: 2,551
Joined: Oct 2005
Reputation:
3
It's always because it's the only restaurant open. Even back in the day.
At least, we'll always have Denny's, Greg.
I should add that I still don't know the exact cause of Katie's death and that my aforementioned OD comment should be clarified. Katie was on seizure and pain medications. She was a partier for sure, but it wasn't like she was a junkie or a crackhead. She was going through a really difficult spell having lost her dad recently to suicide and her grandmother to age. She had also lost her job due to her medical condition but she had just picked up a new one. Last night wasn't the night to pry about the circumstances. It was more about us all rejoicing that we got to share her beautiful healing spirit, if only for a moment. I will never see a rainbow without thinking of her. That's actually true for me for rainbows and Buddhist monks too - I do love rainbows - doesn't everyone?
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
Posts: 33,935
Threads: 2,551
Joined: Oct 2005
Reputation:
3
(10-18-2018, 08:42 AM)Drunk Monk Wrote: That's actually true for me for rainbows and Buddhist monks too - I do love rainbows - doesn't everyone?
So those of you who bothered to read my book (the cfs were sort of forced to do so) may recall my discussion of rainbows and Shaolin monks. There was this period when I'd see rainbows when I entered my 'Shaolin zone' - it happened many times in different circumstances over the years, and it always gave me hope. Rainbows figure prominently in Chinese buddhism.
I started work on our next Shaolin Special with only one story - the cover story. I'd been hesitant on how to approach it this time because of our quarterly shift, but I've got it sorted. Within a week of committing to it, several stories manifested, and a significant Shaolin qigong master is coming, someone Gigi and I have always wanted to meet. On top of that, I just learned that my master, Shi Decheng, the one I discipled under, is coming in two weeks. So now I'm back in training.
And Katie. Dear sweet Katie. Katie was my rainbow.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
|
