But that, in shutting out the light of day, she had shut out infinitely more; that, in seclusion, she had secluded herself from a thousand natural healing influences; that, her mind, brooding solitary, had grown diseased, as all minds do and must and will that reverse the appointed order of their Maker
— chapter 49, Great Expectations
No, I’m hardly turning into Ms. Havisham. No no no! But I’m feeling feverish and achy and melancholic today, so I thought I’d wallow a bit after a friend sent me a beautiful tribute (that I’ve seen several times) and share some of the love with you.
It was freezing last night at Owl Farm — actually it was about 12 degrees below freezing. I had to replace the attic insulation last month due to the fact that Owl Farm sits in a 150 million year-old mountain valley where wildlife is the norm. Usually a blessing, with Elk, deer, bald eagles, red tailed hawks and mountain lions. But with the wild, come the wild rodents — field mice. Their parties were getting so out of control at night that I finally had to declare war and remove all their nests and replace attic insulation and block all their little entrance holes… but the new stuff ain’t (sp?) the same as the old, rodent nest-clad insulation of 1975. ah well. Owl Farm is now filled with plug-in heaters awaiting an eco-friendly foam, I’ve had the peacock’s heaters on round-the-clock and I wore Hunter’s sweater to bed last night with both cats and Athena sleeping in close by.
It reminded me of one day that Hunter was on the set of "meet the Press" with Tim Russert. It was just about as cold in his studio. I guess it keeps guests and host, if not shivering, sharp and fresh.
So, here is one of the many beautiful video tributes that someone who goes by the name "lostcause845" did for Hunter a few years ago that has some footage of Hunter and the late Tim Russert. I’ve seen it several times and it’s always moved me.
He wrote, in the intro:
In Memory of the late Hunter S. Thompson. Who never backed down, and who could wrestle with the greatest of evils and prevail.
http://www.youtube.com/user/lostcause845
And also, a huge Happy Birthday to Jackie Friedman — a good friend to me and Hunter. A group of us will be celebrating her 29th birthday at the Belly Up in Aspen for a Movember tribute. I’ll be loading up on theraflu, and rhinestone hospital mask and neon colored hoop earrings to see Jackie win the eighties best 80s costume!
Your friend in Woody Creek,
Anita Thompson
p.s. The first frames are from a note that Hunter wrote to me in his notebook titled "football season is over." It was not his actual suicide note, but it was reported as such. This is a lovely tribute nonetheless. His genuine suicide note was beautiful and remains unpublished. But the football note is genuine, so please thank lostcause854 for posting his tribute.
There are several other beautiful tributes that have been posted on Youtube and elsewhere — most are lovely. if you have one that you’d like me to post, please email me (link on sidebar)
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