An Easter Time Requiem For JW

As indicated in this post, shortly after John's death, we somehow brought ourselves to listen to Vin Scelsa's show from April 7th on WFUV in New York. We have always regarded it as a fitting requiem for John, especially since part of it was recorded that fateful Saturday afternoon. For me, it's opening song, Judy Collin's version of the Bob Dylan song "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" has forever since been indelibly associated with that day.

This past Saturday, the Saturday before Easter, which for us is a truer anniversary of John's death than is the calendar date of April 7th, Vin managed to build his entire two hour show around that one song which has so much meaning for us.  If you want to share in the experience, simply click on this link and have a listen.  

When you’re lost in the rain in Juarez

And it’s Easter time too

And your gravity fails

And negativity don’t pull you through

...

Everybody said they’d stand behind me

When the game got rough

But the joke was on me

There was nobody even there to call my bluff

I’m going back to New York City

I do believe I’ve had enough

... "And" Yet Another Renewal

For those not familiar with it, central to JW's memorial at John's parents' home in Southern Maryland is a bench under the shade of three cherry trees identical to those surrounding the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC. One of John’s last days was spent lying with his fiancé under the cherry trees at the Tidal Basin while they were in full bloom. The intent was that his memorial should forever bloom on or around the anniversary of his death as a sign of hope, renewal and salvation. 

As a sign of the unusually cold winter and spring experienced this year, the trees have bloomed their latest yet, having peaked yesterday.

The full story behind JW's memorial can be found here.  To see how his memorial has grown over the years, go to these links for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 (and note the differences in when the cherry blossoms bloom each year.  For the record, in 2007 they peaked on April 1st). 

More "and ..."

Recall this earlier post where I wrote about Roger Rosenblatt's reflections in his book Kayak Morning several years after the death of his adult daughter.  In this book, Rosenblatt quotes the Irish short story writer, Sean Ó Faoláin, as saying "that 'and' was the most hopeful word in the English language."

It is in that context that I can make the earlier post today AND this post of the very same day -- on the anniversary of John's death seven years ago.  Those seven years have proven to be nothing but one continuous "and" with JW somehow, someway being a big part of everything that encompassed that "and."  For instance, see the below pictures of John's namesake, the seventh John Leonard in successive generations, aka Bentley!

A Post for April 7th

Broken Circle Breakdown -- a Belgian film about a pickup driving Flemish couple from Ghent with a passion for American bluegrass music who loose their child to cancer -- singing Townes Van Zandt's "If I Needed You" -- somehow seems appropriate on this April 7th. Click on image below to take you to the Vimeo site to view the video (can't embed on blog).



If I Needed You - Johan Heldenbergh & Veerle Baetens - The Broken Circle Breakdown from Menuet on Vimeo.

Then see also this version of "The Wayfaring Stranger":

A Day of Commemoration

Today, for the second time in seven years, on the eve of the 7th anniversary of JW's death, John's mom & dad went to a donor family gathering sponsored by theWashington Regional Transplant Community.  It seems entirely fitting at this time of year to attend a gathering intended to recognize and remember the tremendous gift of life which JW and others made possible by the donation of their organs and tissues.  We heard several donation recipients recount first-hand the impact such donations had on them and their families.  

As a reminder, John's heart was transplanted into a 57 year-old retired realtor. He is married, has four children, and two grandchildren. He was on the waiting list for three days prior to transplant. He suffered from Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC), a disease of unknown cause that results in an enlarged heart that does not pump properly. His transplant was a success, and he is in good condition. He is looking forward to returning to some of his favorite hobbies, which include cooking and telling stories to his grandchildren. He is very happy and grateful for this gift of life that John gave him.

John's liver and left kidney were both gifted to a 56 year-old married man who lives in Virginia. Prior to receiving his transplant, he suffered from a non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) liver disease which is fatal. He was on dialysis for two weeks, and he was on the waiting list for five months. Although he suffered some minor setbacks, his transplant was a success. John's recipient enjoys spending time with his family doing leisure activities. He is very grateful for this second chance at life that John has given to him.

John's pancreas and right kidney was gifted to a 53 year-old woman. She is a retired Verizon employee who has one child and one grandchild. Prior to receiving these precious gifts, she suffered from diabetes. She was on dialysis for nine months, and on the waiting list for seven months. The transplant was a success and John's recipient is in good condition. She enjoys sewing and solving puzzles. She appreciates John's precious gifts.
JW, of course, has had a tremendous impact on others in so many different ways and we are glad to have had the opportunity to participate in honoring this one aspect of his legacy.  Besides, there aren't too many other places where you can be surrounded by hundreds of people where being the parent of a deceased child is, unfortunately, the norm.

Today we also celebrated the 4th birthday of John's niece, Ariana -- as well as the 35th birthday of John's little brother.  Fitting commemorations all around!  Without a doubt, John is so proud.