Social Media (un)Bliss
I miss him, but I am more annoyed that I learned of it first through facebook. I had received his annual Christmas card with enclosed note of that year's events. Nothing overly done, just a nice and direct synopsis of his 2010 year and how adventurous with job moving three times and finally settling down in Beaufort. A nice little city I had actually visited even. Had spoke with him in December shortly after receiving this card, distance makes the heart fond right?
Then his birthday reminder came up in FB and thought I'd post a quick note to him before heading to see students in class. Only to discover other postings on his page in late December saying "You are a special person Mike." and "You will truly be missed." or "Its still hard to believe you're gone." And of course I was immediately taken aback...what the hell happened? Why didn't a know this? Dammit.
I didn't know because Mike was typically a loner, no significant other, lots of friends spread out over many cities, but with the recent move he was on his own. I am sad for not knowing sooner despite there being nothing I could do about that. And I'm still trying to discover what happened exactly.
But I can say Mike was a great, great and thoughtful friend, a snappy dresser and could give you just about anyone's back story. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil? He was born/raised Savannah for what I knew and could tell you much more insight than the book ever did. But he was also the most Southern 'genteel' fellow I've met thus far in my life. A great guy on many levels, definitely missed and hopefully having a much more fun time now even, though it would be a tough act to follow his living life I think. "Now be nice!" is something I heard him say to many a complaining type person and that's lodged in my head now. Rest well Mike, I miss you like only a 'not-calling-every-day' friend-idiot can at the moment.
Then his birthday reminder came up in FB and thought I'd post a quick note to him before heading to see students in class. Only to discover other postings on his page in late December saying "You are a special person Mike." and "You will truly be missed." or "Its still hard to believe you're gone." And of course I was immediately taken aback...what the hell happened? Why didn't a know this? Dammit.
I didn't know because Mike was typically a loner, no significant other, lots of friends spread out over many cities, but with the recent move he was on his own. I am sad for not knowing sooner despite there being nothing I could do about that. And I'm still trying to discover what happened exactly.
But I can say Mike was a great, great and thoughtful friend, a snappy dresser and could give you just about anyone's back story. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil? He was born/raised Savannah for what I knew and could tell you much more insight than the book ever did. But he was also the most Southern 'genteel' fellow I've met thus far in my life. A great guy on many levels, definitely missed and hopefully having a much more fun time now even, though it would be a tough act to follow his living life I think. "Now be nice!" is something I heard him say to many a complaining type person and that's lodged in my head now. Rest well Mike, I miss you like only a 'not-calling-every-day' friend-idiot can at the moment.