Robert Allan Barriault: January 16th, 1976 - July 6th 2008
I'd just like to start by saying thanks to everyone who offered help and support in my last post - I had intended to reply to each of you, but only when I had something more to say than "I just don't know"... I thought I would have been able to formulate even some kind of temporary band-aid for my life by now, but I've been living a bit of a series of unfortunate events as of late - and haven't had time to think much on my career path. Hopefully things will settle down now and I can try to hammer this thing out.
Which brings me to this: I lost one of my dearest friends - precisely one week ago. I was sitting here at this very same desk at Taschen, when i received the phone call saying my 32 year old friend Robert Allan Barriault had not woken up this morning, and would never do so again.
It took a couple days for the coroners report, and autopsy... It will take several months yet for the tox-screen, but as it stands (and i don't have a shadow of doubt in my mind that this is incorrect) he passed away from a Myocardial Infarction, due to a %90 blockage of his Coronary Arteries. In other words - Robert, at the age of 32, died of a Heart Attack, because his Arteries were almost impassable due to Coronary Artery Disease.
This, leaves a very deep bitterness in my chest - as Rob was one of the most amazing people that ever graced me with a presence in my life. I am heartbroken.
But rob was ever the optimist, he would always say (and was remarked upon at the memorial) "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened"... nothing phased him. He was divorced, diabetic, and had bad legs - but that never stopped him from doing a THING or put any storm clouds above his head. He would also say "All my people, are good people". Robs people have been united in our grief, and as sad as the circumstances are, I have made some true friends, and come that much closer to people with him i was already close.
He would also say, in toast "Here's to you, and here's to me - the best of friends we'll always be. And if ever we should disagree, fuck you then and here's to me!" which never ceased to amuse me.
The service was yesterday - the eulogy given by his brother-from-another-mother (Brent) was astonishing, it was full of light and laughter. But thats who rob was - even in death hes still reducing us to fits of giggles.
A tragic loss, but I've begun to accept it. I have cried an ocean, and I am sure I will cry for him again, from time to time. But the worst of my grief has passed. The remaining sorrow too shall pass - as indeed one day I myself will pass - and when I do, all wrinkled and old, I hope rob meets me in the other-world so I can give him a swift kick in the ass for bailing so early, ha!
He's totally kickin' it with Jesus.
From the memorial:
When i come to the end of the day
And the sun has set for me,
I want no rites in a gloom-filled room
Why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a little, but not too long;
And not with your head bowed low.
Remember the love we once shared;
Miss me but let me go.
For this is a journey we all must take
And each must go alone.
It's all part of the makers plan,
A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick at heart,
Go to friends we know,
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds,
Miss me, but let me go.
~Author Unknown
Which brings me to this: I lost one of my dearest friends - precisely one week ago. I was sitting here at this very same desk at Taschen, when i received the phone call saying my 32 year old friend Robert Allan Barriault had not woken up this morning, and would never do so again.
It took a couple days for the coroners report, and autopsy... It will take several months yet for the tox-screen, but as it stands (and i don't have a shadow of doubt in my mind that this is incorrect) he passed away from a Myocardial Infarction, due to a %90 blockage of his Coronary Arteries. In other words - Robert, at the age of 32, died of a Heart Attack, because his Arteries were almost impassable due to Coronary Artery Disease.
This, leaves a very deep bitterness in my chest - as Rob was one of the most amazing people that ever graced me with a presence in my life. I am heartbroken.
But rob was ever the optimist, he would always say (and was remarked upon at the memorial) "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened"... nothing phased him. He was divorced, diabetic, and had bad legs - but that never stopped him from doing a THING or put any storm clouds above his head. He would also say "All my people, are good people". Robs people have been united in our grief, and as sad as the circumstances are, I have made some true friends, and come that much closer to people with him i was already close.
He would also say, in toast "Here's to you, and here's to me - the best of friends we'll always be. And if ever we should disagree, fuck you then and here's to me!" which never ceased to amuse me.
The service was yesterday - the eulogy given by his brother-from-another-mother (Brent) was astonishing, it was full of light and laughter. But thats who rob was - even in death hes still reducing us to fits of giggles.
A tragic loss, but I've begun to accept it. I have cried an ocean, and I am sure I will cry for him again, from time to time. But the worst of my grief has passed. The remaining sorrow too shall pass - as indeed one day I myself will pass - and when I do, all wrinkled and old, I hope rob meets me in the other-world so I can give him a swift kick in the ass for bailing so early, ha!
He's totally kickin' it with Jesus.
From the memorial:
When i come to the end of the day
And the sun has set for me,
I want no rites in a gloom-filled room
Why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a little, but not too long;
And not with your head bowed low.
Remember the love we once shared;
Miss me but let me go.
For this is a journey we all must take
And each must go alone.
It's all part of the makers plan,
A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick at heart,
Go to friends we know,
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds,
Miss me, but let me go.
~Author Unknown