Heath - a letter
Like so many of you, today my heart is broken. I'm shattered, just numb with disbelief and grief. This has been the hardest day in a long, long time. And what makes it harder too is that (like many of you) my RL people don't share my love for and interest in Heath, his life and his work. So at this time, it is to the online community that we turn, needing each other, needing support and needing to share our Heath stories.
I want to share something too, something I received from Heath about a year ago, something which speaks volumes as to the type of person he was - warm-hearted, thoughtful, caring, enthusiastic and loyal.
When I first became a Heath fan, I got deeply and actively involved in several online communities. These including DCF (where I edited The Daily Sheet) and two other forums that specifically supported Heath's indie films - Addicted to the Movie Candy and I'm Not There.
Now, one of the cool things about Heath was that he really cared about his fans - he was a member of both the indie movie forums and sometimes posted there too. He was very savvy - always knew who was involved and what was going on. So one night, around midnight, I was editing TDS when a PM notification dropped into my mail box. It came from the INT site, from user HAL (which stood, of course, for Heath Andrew Ledger)
Hi Linda
I was on the site reading and wanted to take a minute to say thank you for all the help you are giving my (name omitted). I read the great AFI news (see * below) you wrote in December and found myself smiling and picturing you running everywhere giving the news to everyone. It was an incredible night. You did a great job and I know how much (Name omitted) appreciated it. And I appreciate your work here on I'm Not There. What an experience that was. Everyone will love this movie. It's like nothing you have ever experienced in a film.
(Name omitted) tells me you are a writer. I am an avid reader myself and have tremendous respect for anyone who's heart leads them to be a master of the written word. I envy you that gift.
I hope that you and your family have a great New Year.
Be happy
Peace
Heath
Heath was that kind of guy - he took the time to write to someone he didn't really know, just to say thank you - how cool is that? It made my whole year!! I will never, ever forget him.
I feel so privileged to have been a part of this world at this time. If it hadn't been for BBM and Heath, I would not have met those people whom I now number amongst the closest of friends. So let this be my turn to say thank you to Heath: for being himself, for following his heart, for acting his socks off in all his movies, for loving his little girl the way he did, for being a catalyst for change in the lives of so many - he will never ever be forgotten.
Peace, my friend.
* The AFI awards were a total blast. DCF member Ministering Angel and I spent an hour on the phone - she was in Australia watching the event on live TV and I was at my computer in South Africa, listening down the line and hearing her squeal with joy when Heath won. TDS got posted a bit late that day, but it was worth it - you can read the TDS account HERE, if you are interested!
I want to share something too, something I received from Heath about a year ago, something which speaks volumes as to the type of person he was - warm-hearted, thoughtful, caring, enthusiastic and loyal.
When I first became a Heath fan, I got deeply and actively involved in several online communities. These including DCF (where I edited The Daily Sheet) and two other forums that specifically supported Heath's indie films - Addicted to the Movie Candy and I'm Not There.
Now, one of the cool things about Heath was that he really cared about his fans - he was a member of both the indie movie forums and sometimes posted there too. He was very savvy - always knew who was involved and what was going on. So one night, around midnight, I was editing TDS when a PM notification dropped into my mail box. It came from the INT site, from user HAL (which stood, of course, for Heath Andrew Ledger)
Hi Linda
I was on the site reading and wanted to take a minute to say thank you for all the help you are giving my (name omitted). I read the great AFI news (see * below) you wrote in December and found myself smiling and picturing you running everywhere giving the news to everyone. It was an incredible night. You did a great job and I know how much (Name omitted) appreciated it. And I appreciate your work here on I'm Not There. What an experience that was. Everyone will love this movie. It's like nothing you have ever experienced in a film.
(Name omitted) tells me you are a writer. I am an avid reader myself and have tremendous respect for anyone who's heart leads them to be a master of the written word. I envy you that gift.
I hope that you and your family have a great New Year.
Be happy
Peace
Heath
Heath was that kind of guy - he took the time to write to someone he didn't really know, just to say thank you - how cool is that? It made my whole year!! I will never, ever forget him.
I feel so privileged to have been a part of this world at this time. If it hadn't been for BBM and Heath, I would not have met those people whom I now number amongst the closest of friends. So let this be my turn to say thank you to Heath: for being himself, for following his heart, for acting his socks off in all his movies, for loving his little girl the way he did, for being a catalyst for change in the lives of so many - he will never ever be forgotten.
Peace, my friend.
* The AFI awards were a total blast. DCF member Ministering Angel and I spent an hour on the phone - she was in Australia watching the event on live TV and I was at my computer in South Africa, listening down the line and hearing her squeal with joy when Heath won. TDS got posted a bit late that day, but it was worth it - you can read the TDS account HERE, if you are interested!