Well done. ad
On Wed, Aug 31, 2016 at 10:23 PM, David Kusumoto <davidmkusum...@hotmail.com > wrote: > Adrian Cowdry, 1964-2016 > > > > * I'm writing this to amplify the dimensions of a charismatic man we have > all lost. I never met Adrian in person. But over two decades, we > engaged in zillions of conversations that went well beyond his known > affection for movie posters, World War II history, conservative U.K. > politics, Harley Davidson motorcycles - and of course, all things James > Bond. > > > > * Adrian was only 52 when he took his own life - and it appears that he > engineered his death to coincide with his birthday, which was two days ago, > on August 29. He was a passionate thinker, going against the grain on > many issues, peppering his commentaries with hilariously worded language. > Standing at 6-5 - he was literally and figuratively a larger-than-life man. > > > > * We shared dark ideologies about the meaning of life, politics and > families. (He leaves behind a wife and three grown children.) While I > do not know how Adrian chose to end his life - nor the specific catalysts > that spurred him - our many exchanges included emails (which I've spent > hours re-reading today) - which suggest how death - whether by natural > causes or otherwise - was regarded as a matter-of-fact subject for both of > us - albeit for different reasons. > > > > * (NOTE: the following is my opinion, not necessarily factual). In my > view, Adrian's feelings about suicide had hardened during the past 10 years. > It is also my view that he was NOT mentally ill, which is a reflexive > diagnosis given by others who react to this type of horror. I believe > Adrian's views solidified as the result of at least three gigantic events: > 1) getting cancer in 2008 and joining the list of millions of "survivors" > who go into remission - but are forever haunted by its possible return; 2) > the suicide of his terminally ill father in December 2013; and, 3) the > death of his mother just 36 hours later, by, in Adrian words, "a broken > heart." His parents had been married for 50 years. > > > > * For all his joviality and cutting wit - Adrian was a serious and > practical man - who strived for perfection in everything he did. Today, > as I reflect on his great but short life, I am struck by the following > passages, excerpted over several emails we exchanged in 2013 and 2014. These > are Adrian's own words: > > > > ** "There is an argument for euthanasia and assisted suicide. You would > not allow a dog to suffer in this way. The arguments about playing god are > strong - but not as strong as (making sure that) your loved ones do not > suffer..."* > > > > ** "Like you, I do not have any religious bent, I do not condemn anyone > their faith - but I cannot believe in an all seeing creator. I do believe, > however - that our bodies are not the be all and end all...I firmly believe > that souls live on. Whether they remain to help loved ones - or to just > keep an eye (on us) - I am not sure. But I often feel the presence of folk > from my past who were close to me. And I often dream that I am conversing > and perhaps even receiving messages from them, (such as), "tell so and so > not to worry about us, because all is well..." This could be my > subconscious speaking - for which I have no explanation - so I go with the > flow and accept them for what they are - that they are dreams with possible > messages."* > > > > ** "And like you I (sometimes) feel the presence of someone (who has > passed). My great uncle was a master baker who taught me a lot about > cooking. He was from Yorkshire and he taught me how to make Yorkshire puds > by (a strict) rule of thumb. And every time I make them, I remember how he > used to say to me, "you're doing good, lad." And as you say, I do remember > facial expressions and idiosyncrasies. I'd like to think (there is more to > life) than just conception (and) death. I do feel that the soul lives on."* > > > > ** "I often feel that folk gain comfort knowing their loved ones are > (always) around. Love is such a strong emotion that keeps those who have > passed - in one's mind. And in many ways - this keeps them (forever) > alive. ...(But) you would not allow a dog to suffer. No human should go > through this. Your dad will be at peace when he passes and you will > remember the better times before this last phase of his life."* > > > > * BTW, in the last excerpt - Adrian is referring to struggles I had with > my Dad, who passed away last year from Alzheimer's. It is obvious, when > I read Adrian's own hand - that he was a deep thinker, a philosopher, a man > in touch with his accomplishments - as well as a man with a tactile sense > of humanity, of suffering, of his own mortality, trying to gain full > control and measure of his own destiny - instead of being dragged behind it. > > > > > * Like everyone else, I grieve for him and will miss him tremendously. But > I'm comforted that despite being an empirical sort - and because Adrian > himself always believed the soul lives on - I will too. He will forever > speak to me from the beyond. - d. > > > > ** Closing with Adrian's signature sign off, * > > *"This Never Happened to the Other Fella...."* > > [image: http://imagizer.imageshack.us/a/img924/4379/0bNnrR.jpg] > > ------------------------------ > > To unsubscribe from the MoPo-L list, click the following link: > https://listserv.american.edu/scripts/wa-american.exe?SUBED1=MoPo-L&A=1 > Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: lists...@listserv.american.edu In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
