In Memoriam: Billy "Roger" Shipman

September 9, 1938- August 15, 2014
Billy "Roger" Shipman

 On the far right in the above picture is my great Uncle Roger- my Grandfather's youngest brother.  I had the privilege to know him well.  Today, surrounded by his immediate family and friends, he was put to final rest after a sudden loss to an aggressive cancer in his brain.  I wish I had a better picture of him but, this one was the only one I have where he's standing still.

 He was a very active person.  He raised and took care of horses and loved animals.  He loved going to auto shows and races and shared the thrill of the sport.  He was a championship bowler. He was an avid gun, stamp and coin collector.  He was always doing something or planning to do something.  He was so much more than these things.  

 He was also an avid writer and poet.  At his funeral today, the family had a friend read a poem he had written called Wings.  Although, I can't remember how it went, I do remember it was beautiful.  It told a story of a bird whose nest and everything it had was washed away and taken by an oncoming storm.  Everything was taken except its wings.  So, the bird flew up and above the darkness and harshness of the storm.  It rose above and toward the beauty of the sun where it was safe.  

 Just a beautiful picture.

He loved his family and his country almost as much as he loved God.  I think that is what I noticed and loved about him the most.

 His church was nature and that is where he connected with creation and God.  I share that place and that connection.  Putting yourself in such surroundings brings all the beauty of this world around you, engulfs you and flows over you in the warm sunshine, the falling rain, the cold snow and the gentle wind.  That was where he lived and shared his life.  This is what I saw in him and what I learned from him.

 I was honored to have him at my wedding almost three months ago.  It's so difficult to put into a few words what a man's life has meant.  It's even more difficult to honor a man with those same few words. Sometimes, a word isn't enough.

 Rest in Peace, Uncle Roger.  Tell my Grandpa I said "Hi" and give him a good goosing.

Brice

Robin Williams: Lost In Hollywood

July 21, 1951- August 11, 2014

"...another awakening took place; that the human spirit is more powerful than any drug - and THAT is what needs to be nourished: with work, play, friendship, family. THESE are the things that matter. This is what we'd forgotten - the simplest things."

-Robin Williams as Dr. Sayer in Awakenings

 As a child, I remember seeing the birth of his career; a guest appearance as an strange and physically in-your-face alien visiting the Cunninghams on Happy Days. It was exhilarating, it was bold and unlike anything anyone had ever seen from a comedian before.  He stole the show.  And inevitably became the star of his own.  His career moved from television to film and there he was able to branch out, still giving us the comedy he infected us with but also a tenderness that no one expected.  It amazes me still that someone so full of laughter and comic physicality could also touch us simply and deeply into our hearts and our souls.

 This was Robin Williams.  A comic, but not only a comic.  A thespian, but not only a thespian.  A poet, but not only a poet.  He was more than one single part.  He was all of the whole;  a gentle and loving spirit who brought joy and laughter to literally millions.  I for one am thankful for the joy and laughter and tears he gave.  This is how I will remember him.  I am deeply saddened to see him go far before his time.

 I don't understand the depth of pain he was feeling and the cause of his depression.  The truth is, we never will.  The struggle he faced was deep, painful, dark and personal.  My hope is that he is now fully understanding, fully healed and fully transformed into the same joy he gave the rest of us.

Rest now, Robin.  You burned so brightly for so long.  We thank you.  Rest.

Brice

p.s. here are my top five (there are far more but five will do) roles that he inspired and connected with me:

Dead Poets Society

Awakenings

The Survivors

The Fisher King

Death to Smoochy