Not Just Another Day…
It’s June 16th, NOT just another day.
This is Leroy’s birthday. He would have been 56 years old this year. Instead, I think about this day and realize in one day less than two months from now, it will be three years that he died from colon cancer.
I often wonder what he would be doing at age 56, if things had worked out differently. He was such a solid journalist, I’m thinking he’d still be involved in the business, in some way. He always wanted to give back to those who were struggling to survive in this world. He saw so much of man’s inhumanity to man as he covered war zones around the world….he had hoped to find a comfortable fit that would allow him to make a difference.
So much of the bad stuff he witnessed stayed with him. The images often came back to him in the night. I think the only way he figured he could turn them into shadows, was to face them in the daylight…to bring them aid and comfort, while telling their stories to the world. That would have eased his mind.
I think some of that happened, as he told his own story, fighting his cancer. He lifted the burden of the disease, not just from his own shoulders, but from a community of cancer patients and their caregivers too.
I hope that’s right. I hope he felt that way at some point in his final days.
As each year passes, I find myself understanding more about him and who he was. It’s funny, I thought I knew him backwards and forwards, but as I think about him every day, I discover new parts that made him who he was.
June 16th…NOT just another day.
Happy Birthday Leroy.
June 16, 2011 @ 9:22 pm
Hi laurie,
this is so amazing. I haven’t gone on your blog until today but have thought of Leroy and you so often, as I followed his blog to the end. And to find you here today, on Leroy’s birthday. Well, this is rather amazing.
I wanted you to know that I took from Leroy’s blogs so much about love and life- I was going through a difficult period as I was deciding whether to end a very long lonely and shallow marriage. His blogs and in particular his comments about you, were inspiration to me in ways you cannot imagine- just the depth of feelings and expression. Such a connection to you in so many fun and serious ways.
I left my marriage in 2/09 and am finishing my divorce. I re-kindled a romance from 35 years ago which is full of love, conversation, sharing and affection. I want to thank you and Leroy for inspiring me. I wanted to write this sooner but felt it would appear petty.
I will have some chocolate and lift a glass to Leroy’s memory: he was so special and did so much to help so many.
Love to you,
Linda h
June 16, 2011 @ 8:47 pm
Happy Birthday Leroy…and for each of us that continues to fight and walk the path he lit for us, a celebration for sure! Not a day goes by that I don’t think of all of you and the paths we shared together, all because of Leroy! Mo, the virtual garden is lovely isn’t it?!
He found his place, he did give back and he continues to help us fight each day and one day, because of Leroy, Neil, Melody, Patrick, John and all the others, we will win!
Laurie, your a gift to so many to keep that path lit for others to follow…Thank you
June 16, 2011 @ 7:54 pm
Laurie…. it’s been a really busy day for me but you and Leroy were on my mind all day. First thing I did this morning was to wish him a happy birthday!! I am so glad that you were able to put aside the sad thoughts today and spent it doing what Leroy would have been so proud of. I love your attitude with the celebrating tonight with Mai Tais and chocolate!! I bet he loved it and is laughing that big laugh of his, watching you.
Leroy was such a special person….he did so much for all of us and for so many other people, even when his days were the hardest. I know he’s shining up there in the heavens with that big grin of his,, and watching over us still!! You’re pretty special yourself, Laurie…very special!!!
June 16, 2011 @ 11:59 am
If you look in the Archives, you’ll see that so many people did wish Leroy a “Happy Birthday” on June 16 and I know I wish I could still send him an electronic birthday greeting. He was really a pioneer in communicating the reality of dealing with cancer–both for caregivers and the patient. Sometimes, I wonder about all those many people I don’t know, but know their names because they were part of “My Cancer,” and then “Our Cancer.”
June 16, 2011 @ 8:41 am
Laurie, Leroy made for me my journey through crazy land bearable.
His insights, thoughts and most of all his honesty lighted the way.
We are not given to know what lies before us, just what has passed, I do believe that his insightful and dynamic life would have continued to shine for us.
I can say that you are a gift from him to us, we that have either survived or who have give care to those who have had the disease. You have graced us in many of the same ways Leroy did with truth, honesty and insight.
So Happy Birthday Leroy
June 16, 2011 @ 8:24 am
Happy Birthday Big Guy! We miss you. We think of you so often. You demonstrated the very best of the human condition so that we have seen what it looks like….no excuses for us to not and try to emulate your example. Your birthday comes on just one day each year but we celebrate your life everyday!!!
June 15, 2011 @ 9:42 pm
Leroy left something of himself with all of us. What I took from his words was a rare appreciation of what a day means, that no day is like any other. He had a spirit that accompanies a big heart, that finds time to give even when it seems there’s nothing left.
I miss the virtual garden we created for him at NPR. I imagine it looks like a Hawaiian shirt right now, lots of bird of paradise and orchids; there are candles on the water, and their light continues to show us the way.
Happy Birthday, Leroy.
June 15, 2011 @ 9:40 pm
You are right…it’s not just another day. I wanted to send you a “cyber hug” but wasn’t sure what kind of week you were having and if maybe you just wanted to be left with your thoughts and memories. I’m glad you posted something and you know Leroy would most likely still been doing what he loved to do. He would have let us know the demons of the world were still active and he was going to prove it by imbedding himself among them and exposing them. You can be proud of yourself for taking those baby steps forward because I’m quite sure Leroy is. I hope he meets up with my “mighty oak” and they can discuss how much fun jeeps and motorcycles are and laugh their mighty laugh.