Forever Orange

Miss You More - Year Four

2011-08-27T09:27:00.000-07:00

Four years ago today it was a rainy day and I was at the beach on a family vacation when I received the unbelievable news about John Henry's departure. I find it interesting that today I am with much of my family again on a rainy day awaiting Hurricane Irene's arrival here on the East Coast.

John Henry always had a special gift of making his presence known to all, but a hurricane? Really? The only thing I can say is that every drop of rain today is a reminder of all the tears shed in sadness AND in happiness of having known such a charismatic soul. Love you more, my friend.

Happy Birthday, John Henry Rew!!!

2011-03-27T10:02:00.000-07:00

If you sit and think about what John Henry might have been doing today I bet there are a number of us that have variations on a similar scenario. I envision him waking up late today after another fabulous party on the 8th Avenue rooftop. Meeting friends for brunch, and then getting a manicure. Finishing up the day at home with friends having dinner and drinks and, of course, some champagne. As I said I'm sure there are a number of variations on this similar theme but all share the common thread of celebrating a life well lived with love laughter and, best of all, friends and family.

I'm sure we all miss the concentrated energy that always surrounded our favorite red-head, however, on a beautiful March day it is hard to not feel it all around us when thinking of how he would be spending it. On what has come to be called "Random Acts of Orange" day, remember to be kind to those around you as well as to yourself. You most likely would have been having a great day celebrating with him so why not just celebrate for him?

"Random" Birthday Wishes

2010-03-25T20:09:00.000-07:00

So sad sometimes it seems to me
to not have seen your face
to continue on the journey
in this, now so different, place.

But today I'll focus on the glow
of your wonderful orange hue
So that those who missed your presence here
will know the FABULOSITY of you!

Happy Birthday, my dear friend! And Happy Random Acts of Orange Day to EVERYONE! Although today is the official day(March 27), don't wait to make an impact on someone's life - do it everyday in big and small ways. Do something for no reason other than because you can. Be generous. Dream big. Listen. Most importantly - love, unconditionally and with abandon. These are some of the gifts bestowed upon us because of our relationships with John Henry...so SHARE them everyday and in everyway with everyone! Tell us how you spent your Random Acts of Orange day here at Forever Orange...Inspire us, just like he did! ;-D

Doing it John Henry Style...at the Beach!

2009-08-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

I'm away on vaca with my family at the beach...just as I was two years ago when everything changed. I go to a lot of beaches, living at the Jersey shore, and it doesn't matter where I go - I always feel a piece of John Henry around me when I'm there.

I think it is the carefree attitude that the beach brings out in most people that takes hold and gives me a John Henry-sized hug...I know you all know the hug I'm talking about. :-D So, before the Summer ends be sure to get to a beach. Whether you go to Fire Island, Brigantine, Kehena Beach, or even Obelisk Beach in Sydney do it and enjoy it John Henry style!

2nd Anniversary - As Posted by John & Helen Rew

2009-08-24T08:51:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends and Family. Sunday, the 23 rd of August will mark the second anniversary of John Henry's passing. This year, let us not shed tears, but celebrate the time we had him in our lives. On Sunday, please do as John Henry would do, extend a kindness to a friend or stranger, laugh hysterically at nothing at all, dance until your feet fall off, dream, be happy and remember him with a smile on you face. (of COURSE, having a cocktail or two wouldn't hurt) Love you all, Helen and John

A Tribute in Orange - Part III

2009-06-22T22:25:00.000-07:00

I will never stop being amazed at the far-reaching impact John Henry had on those that crossed his path - even if only for a short time. This week as Gay Pride is celebrated I know that he is missed. How could you not miss that beautiful boy draped in that beautiful flag?

Here is yet another example of how he is remembered everywhere he went.

www.frogmeadow.com/blog

A Tribute in Orange - Part II

2009-05-19T15:41:00.001-07:00

- As posted by Tara McQuaid Cullen -
Today I got my first tattoo....to remember a wonderful friend and what he meant to me.

It will be two years this August that we lost John Henry (that's just so hard to believe). Not a day goes by that I don't think of him. There has been countless times when I wish I could just text or call him, because there is nothing you couldn't share with Henry. There is shit that if I dished to him today, he'd be shocked. For 3 seconds. Then laugh his ass off, put a drink in my hand and tell me how great I am. I miss him.

Actually, this tattoo is somewhat selfish. Yes, it is for a wonderful friend who we all miss. But more importantly, it is a reminder to myself.

The butterfly symbolizes gliding through this life with grace and ease and with that positive, carefree attitude John Henry seemed to easily call upon. It is a reminder that life is short. That with growth and hardships come confidence. With confidence, strength. And altho butterflies seem frail, they fly fearlessly and beautifully thru their short life.

The orange is well...the orange...lol.. to me it's a reminder of Henry's overwhelming passionate spirit. He embodied qualities that I used to just wish for. He still inspires me to love better and live better. To celebrate myself (there's only one), and to celebrate others. To live uncensored and with great passion. To embrace differences, welcome challenges, and not be afraid of change. To find a dream, chase a dream, and make it happen. To not worry about carrying no cash (lol). To live for this moment. To find a way. To feel out loud. To say yes. To smile at strangers. To name it, and do it. To jump. To create. To go big or go home. To have fun. To not be afraid to tell your friends & family I love you. Or I love you more.

If it wasn't for Henry, I wouldn't know myself as well. He used to see me better than I saw myself. He saw everyone he knew in the best possible light. There were no faults or judgements, no expectations, he just loved you unabashedly, and you couldn't help but to love him.

I realized with John Henry it's not about being like him, it's about applying his attitude when embracing yourself and others. So this little orange butterfly is my constant reminder to just be the best possible me and see the best around me. To remember the orange in him, bring out the orange in me, and find the orange in others....And if that means having a little extra fun along the way, that's okay.... John Henry would totally approve :)

A Tribute in Orange - Part I

2009-05-08T20:49:00.000-07:00

The message below was sent from David Grabarkewitz on May 2, 2009:

Dear friends -- While vacationing in Hawaii last month on the Big Island, where JH and I spent so much time, I ran across two marvelous friends, Scott and David, that we had met on our first trip there.

We had a great time re-acquainting ourselves, and, on recommendation of our friend, Kimo, native to the islands, and his partner Barcus, we held a traditional Hawaiian ceremony for John Henry on my last day there: Kimo and Barcus created Leis for all of us, and we stood at a point overlooking the Pacific as Kimo chanted, then made an offering to the sea in memory of him.

If you get to Kalani, or Kehena Beach in Hawaii, you can think of him, as I will.

Cheers,

David

Happy Birthday and Thanks for the Orange!

2009-03-26T20:04:00.000-07:00

"Happy Birthday, Whore!" That was the greeting many of his friends probably heard at one time or another. And of course, it was the most heartfelt happy birthday sentiment from our favorite redhead.

Well today, I return the favor..."Happy Birthday, Whore...I love you more!"

Today (March 27) is Random Acts of Orange day in honor of John Henry's birthday. Don't forget to do Random Acts of Orange - it will make you feel good and someone else will feel good too. Now if that's not the John Henry spirit alive and kicking I don't know what is!

And on another note - as I was contemplating what my Random Act of Orange would be today, I realized that John Henry was my Random Act of Orange. He was a Random Act of Orange in each of our lives and he probably didn't even know it.

So I hope you all have an awesome day today - make it great! And, John Henry, thanks for your orange!

Spring is Springing!

2009-03-14T11:02:00.000-07:00

Spring has sprung...almost. We are only one week away from the official start of Spring and that means two things to me right now:

1. Time to come out of hibernation. Time to get
motivated, get movin,
and get blogging.
2. Random Acts of
Orange Day is right around the corner!

That's right! March 27th is Random Acts of Orange day. The day celebrates the birth of John Henry Rew and honors his spirit of love and inclusion. The concept is easy...

do something nice for someone that could use a little nice in their life.

I'm sure we all have people in our lives or know someone who could use a friendly gesture and in these times there are many we don't know that could benefit from some simple kindness. Pay someone's toll or subway fare, watch your sister's kids, volunteer your time, money, empathetic ear, or your hands to someone just because you can. Just be nice.

Maybe you do this everyday but try to make a special effort on March 27 to go out of your way for someone. Perform a Random Act of Orange and keep John Henry close at hand and in your heart.

And since we're on the subject, I think the nicest thing that JH ever did for me was introduce me to his family and friends - closely followed by giving me my "favorite" kangaroo-paw corkscrew! ;-) What was the nicest thing he did for you? We'd love to know, big or small, what Random Act of Orange you were blessed with.

Memorial Tribute for John Henry Rew

2008-08-08T13:34:00.000-07:00

So it's been almost a year. We don't always realize how much changes in a year. It's often times not until we look back that we see and recognize how much can happen in the 525,600 minutes. Good, bad, different - I think it is safe to say that we will never be the same.

"It's time now to sing out
tho the story never ends
let's celebrate - remember a year
in the life of friends"

Please join the friends and family of John Henry Rew at a memorial tribute in his honor celebrating his fabulous spirit. “Why Brigantine?” you may ask. John Henry worked as the emcee of the Griffin Games at Merv Griffin’s Resorts Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City in the mid 1990’s. It was a perfect mix for him – the excitement of AC life and the tranquility of the beaches in Brigantine where he lived. We hope you’ll join us in one of his favorite places to pay tribute to him and two of his favorite loves: the city and the beach.

About the Memorial

August 23, 2008
7:30 PM Rain or Shine
On the beach in Brigantine NJ
14th St. South, and Ocean Avenue, Beach Entrance

The service will be rain or shine and will last approximately 30 minutes. We will be on the beach and there will be no formal seating. Wear appropriate attire for an outdoor setting. There will be time for those who wish, to share a memory, story, or personal thoughts. Feel free to bring items that hold special meaning to you in honor of John Henry and, of course, to proudly wear your orange. After the service attendees can gather at the
Laguna Grill (1400 Ocean Avenue and 14th Street South, at the beach entrance) to visit and enjoy refreshments.

Brigantine and the surrounding area

If your traveling from a distance and need accommodations to stay overnight or would like to enjoy a weekend in Brigantine or Atlantic City, there are many options. AC is 5 miles from the location of the service in Brigantine. Below are helpful links for trip planning.

Celebrity Resorts - connected to the Laguna Grill, is beachfront at the location of the service: Celebrity Resorts

Brigantine Chamber of Commerce also lists local accommodations:
Brigantine Chamber of Commerce

Need more excitement? Consider AC. Harrah’s and Borgata are the closest casinos but all AC casinos and hotels are convenient to our location: Atlantic City NJ

NJ Transit can bring you to the AC terminal. A short taxi ride can bring you to the location of the memorial: NJ Transit

I've been having MAJOR problems sending the invitations via the evite site so I apologize to anyone that has not received it, however if you can't RSVP to this evite,
please contact Erin Moore with your RSVP or questions at 917/971-9200 or bluejool@aol.com.

Put Some Orange in your Life

2008-04-18T00:57:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about what I wanted to post this week. It was kind of bugging me. I had the nagging feeling of wanting to write something, but nothing was coming. There always much to say but no words that can convey what I'm thinking or feeling. ARRRGGHHHH!!!

Then I asked out loud, "what should I write?" And as usual John Henry sent the answer this time by way of Greg. GZuk just happened to send me a link to Emily's Gems, specifically about the color orange. Here is an excerpt:

Put some orange in your life when you want:

to spice things up when you feel time is dragging
to become more involved in something
to increase creativity
relief from things becoming too serious

Is it me, or does this embody John Henry? All I can say is, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, JHO for always finding a messenger to deliver the answer to my question! And thanks GZuk for delivering it this time! :-)

Random Acts of Orange - Happy Birthday John Henry!

2008-03-27T00:05:00.000-07:00

Today is a day for the last 20, or so, years I've celebrated - John Henry's birthday! Today I'm feeling less celebratory than I'd like to.

It's hard to know what the full impact of John Henry's season of love will have on my life as I walk into my future. However, I can say that if my current knowledge of his impact on not only me but those around me is any indication, it's going to be far greater than I can realize.

In the past I've put a lot of energy into showing JH how much he has meant to me, sometimes in very small ways and other times in larger more overt ways. So this year I have planned to put that energy into doing some 'Random Acts of Orange' in his honor. I'm going to do some nice things for people just for the sake of doing them, in honor of my favorite red-head.

My first random act of orange for today is to share some photos I have of John Henry with some friends and family. I'd love to keep this on the blog indefinitely and hope some of you, whom I didn't have photos of, will send me photos of you with John Henry so I can update the slideshow. Celebrate today for John Henry by doing some random acts of orange on his behalf - and come back and share your experience with us by leaving your comments.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN HENRY - WE LOVE YOU MORE!

Toonces Checking-In! ... as posted by GZuk

2008-02-22T14:36:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to say hello and report that Toonces is doing well.
In fact Toonces wanted me to relay a message to all of his dad's family and friends.
His note follows, as best as I could translate it.

All the best,
Greg

From Toonces:

meooow, meeeoooooow.
hello meow, meow all!

i am enjoying winter in the country, it's not as exciting as chelsea, that's for sure...but i get lots of time to sleep, which i love! meow meow...meow.
i am glad i got a nice cozy house to find great spots to lounge around,
i love when uncle Greggie has a fire going too! ...ppuuuuuurrrrrrr.

i sure miss my daddy, though, meow.
i think about him everyday.

i hope that all is very good with you, meow.
come for a visit if you are ever in northeastern Pennsylvania!

meow, meow,
Toonces

A Last(ing) Hurrah!

2008-01-05T00:40:00.000-08:00

Well, it's official - the new year has begun. A new year, a new journey, on a new path that was/is unexpected. I never realized how hard beginnings and endings are in our lives until now. I guess I had never really given it that much thought. And I guess they always seem easier when those we love are there supporting us, guiding us, and acting as a sounding board when we're leaving one path and beginning something new.

In these last four months I've found one of the most difficult parts of John Henry's absence to be not bouncing things off of him - sharing news, asking advice, getting feedback. You know - all the good stuff that makes our most treasured friends, well, treasured! During these months since I have not been able to get concrete answers and feedback from John Henry when I talk to him, I have resorted to asking during my prayers and meditations for JH to "make his presence known to me," or "speak to me," and sometimes to "bring me guidance." I figure, he probably has a broader range of resources where he is than I have where I am. And he was always about helping out his friends and finding the win-win solutions, so why not ask, right?

Although, I am guilty of being skeptical in the past as to whether such requests or spiritual interventions are possible, on a number of occasions in these recent months I have received what I can only call affirmations or responses to my requests for JHo's guidance. I recognize that we all experience coincidences in life and am usually the first to point them out, but sometimes the universe just gives you what you need exactly when you need it. Some small nudge that is seemingly inoccuous to others, brings clarity and purpose in an unexpected fashion at an unexpected moment.

On New Year's Eve my boyfriend, Al, arrived at my house to take me out for a lovely dinner. Al and I started dating in October, and he never had the opportunity to meet John Henry. He, of course, has heard much about him from me but never got the full-on JHO experience. ;-> When he arrived we chatted for a while and he said something that I was meant to hear. He told me that on the morning news he had heard that they were decorating Times Square with orange balloons for this years ball drop and then he said:

"...hon, it must be a last Hurrah for John Henry. You said he always liked parties."

When we tuned in at 11:30 PM to watch the ball drop, it was a sea of orange celebration. Just as it should always be. I thought to myself that it was not a "last" hurrah, but a lasting hurrah and herald of good things to come in 2008 - JH showing me the way to moving forward and, once again, answering my requests.

Thanks for sending me the message JHo, in an unexpected fashion, through an unexpected source and at an unexpected moment! I really do LOVE you....more. ;-D

P.S. Has John Henry "spoken" to any of you these past months? Share your story with us.

Miss You More!

2007-12-28T22:59:00.000-08:00

So, I haven't been posting very much lately. We're in the midst of the holiday season, a busy time for many. I've been doing most of the holiday things I usually do - baking cookies, shopping for gifts, spending time with family and friends.

Through it all, John Henry has been in the forefront of my mind but a strange thing has happened...I don't have a lot to say (or in this medium, write). It's not that I have no contemplations of him or stories to convey. We all know we have plenty of stories to keep this blog running for quite a long time! ;-)

It's just that when I sit down to write lately, the only thing that comes to me is an image of myself yelling out a simple phrase. An unrealistic and inappropriate phrase, probably born out of frustration, that just won't leave me alone! Maybe by writing it here and releasing it I will get another image

Come Home!!!!!

Most people that know JH, know that when they said they loved or missed him, he would most often reply with "I love you more!" or "I miss you more!". I think it is safe to say, John Henry, that:

WE miss YOU more!

Thanks Giving - Pay it Forward

2007-11-29T13:54:00.000-08:00

Last week was Thanksgiving in the US. It's a day where Americans, watch football, eat turkey, and spend time with family and friends, kicking off the holiday season. Inevitably, it's also a time when many, including myself, take stock of all they have to be grateful for.

Some years this is a larger challenge than others. It's sometimes hard to push past the things in life that make us unhappy to get to the things we are truly thankful for. We all have true blessings in our lives both great and small, but when times are difficult it becomes more important to focus on our blessings. I always say that life is in the details - it is the little things that we often pass off in our daily living of life that really end up becoming the fabric of it.

John Henry, undoubtedly, gave each of us gifts and blessings both great and small. Below is a short list of things that I am grateful for because of JH:

Meeting him
Seeing him perform - everywhere
Meeting,loving, and being embraced by his MSU Family
Sleepovers
Long outdoor lunches during the work day
Meeting Kevin
Schmoopie
Him becoming part of my family and I becoming part of his
Hummingbirds and Arizona
Fire Island
Bear Hugs
Animal Sound Effects
My Kangaroo Paw Bottle Opener
Orange
Spontaneous singing and dancing
Being a Cupcake

My list could go on for a while and I'm sure that each of you have a list just as endearing, strange, and personal. I hope you will share some of your lists with me by replying to this post! ;-)

But the thing that I'm most grateful for right now regarding John Henry is his desire to make the world a better place. He wanted to have a good life and did a good job living one. But he also wanted other people to live a happy life and would often do little things for people to help them do that, thus making the world a better place one little detail at a time. He would, as I and others have said, pay it forward.

Remember: Thanksgiving is not only a proper noun - it's a verb, requiring action. So during the holiday season and throughout the year, give thanks for all you are grateful for and pay it forward, in the spirit of John Henry.

Halloween IS the Orange Holiday!

2007-10-31T15:26:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween from JHO and EMO!

It's Halloween - the orange holiday - and I'm really missing John Henry. I really needed a laugh and since I was bored at work today because there were no JHO instant messages coming in, :-( I decided that I needed a little entertainment - JHO Style. So, please enjoy the "Disco Divas" showing you how it's done. John Henry LOVED Halloween, as you all know, so I figured we should all have a smile on our faces today and what better way to get one than by watching him make us laugh. ENJOY!

P.S. I didn't plan the orange shirt - it must have been meant to be! ;-)

Wedding Crashers - as posted by Tara Cruser-Moss

2007-10-19T15:58:00.000-07:00

John Henry and I worked at Resorts International in Atlantic City as Cheerleaders for the Griffin Games. We usually dressed in the appropriate costumes but one Saturday we were scheduled to emcee a high-end slot tournament, which required me to wear an evening gown and JH to wear a suit. When we finished up at around 7pm, we decided to walk over to the Trump Taj Mahal for something to eat at the Hard Rock or at the Deli.

When we got to the Taj we walked past a banquet room. We could see the buffet table full of awesome food. JH looked at me with this devilish smile and put his arm out. We ate their food and drank their champagne...it was fabulous! At one point, the bride was dancing with JH and I was dancing with the groom. We closed the joint and nobody ever even knew we had crashed the wedding! It was absolutely one of the best times in my life. What a blast! I regret not mentioning this to John Henry. I had meant to a few times, especially after the "Wedding Crashers" movie came out. This is one of many fun memories I have with John Henry Rew III. He always found a way to have fun in the little things. I can't tell you how many little things we did together that ended up being the BEST TIME of my life. I miss my dear friend... there was nobody like him. I will forever cherish this memory and I look forward to seeing him again so we can laugh together.

"A Look, Which Said As Plainly As a Thousand Words" as posted by Greg Z.

2007-10-09T09:24:00.000-07:00

As I was deciding what to do for a posting for Forever Orange, I knew I wanted to gather a bunch of pictures that I had of John Henry. Some I had taken, some that have been shared by family and friends, and also some of his professional head-shots...(SOME OF THESE ARE REALLY BEAUTIFUL!)

I knew I wanted to keep what I actually wrote short and sweet. Like the expression: "a picture paints a thousand words," I wanted this collage of our friend to speak to you, and I trust it will, much more than I could say here today, even if I DID write a thousand words.

I decided to Google the phrase, "a picture paints a thousand words", to see if I got any further ideas or insights. I found this very interesting entry right away:

"A PICTURE PAINTS A THOUSAND WORDS"
"Meaning:
A picture tells a story just as well as a large amount of descriptive text."
"Origin:
There are several varieties of this phrase, including 'a picture is worth a thousand words'.
The first time a form of the phrase appears in print is in James Kirke Paulding's New Mirror for Travellers, 1828: "A look, which said as plainly as a thousand words."

I liked that! And how fitting for our John Henry...EVERY LOOK he gave, EVER gave ANYONE, was certainly said 'AS PLAINLY AS A THOUSAND WORDS'...OR EVEN MORE!

So please enjoy these "looks of the love" John Henry gave to you and the world -
and think of all the words they are being said plainly to you!

Comments are more than welcomed here...if you have any words that you want to share that came to you as you looked at these pictures.

meow, meow, meow, meow, I miss you John Henry, meow...
Toonces & Greg (AKA Greggy)

Goooooo....MAVERICKS!

2007-10-02T22:17:00.000-07:00

mav·er·ick (māv'ər-ĭk, māv'rĭk) adj. 1. Being independent in thought and action or exhibiting such independence. noun. 2. One that refuses to abide by the dictates of or resists adherence to a group.

This week, The Mavericks are in Arizona for the Gay Softball World Series. John Henry had been looking forward to this trip - a chance for a long-anticipated visit to his parents, John and Helen, in Scottsdale, and a fun trip with his softball brothers and sisters.

I'm sure the trip is bitter sweet for the Mavs, but it could not come at a better time. Their visit to the Southwest is a gift for John Henry's family to, again, share in a much-loved part of his life with some of the people who love him the most.

It is so fitting that John Henry would be part of a team called the Mavericks. Anyone that knew him would understand why. One of his greatest gifts was his ability to exhibit his independence and live out loud, not by anyone elses rules, but by his own. This quality was, no doubt, inspiring and infectious to those around him. There is no telling how many people may have been impacted by his unassuming example of this, but I feel that it may be one of the many ripples that emanate out from his life - touching many people for a long time to come.

So...as the Mavericks get out there and play like there's no tomorrow, I'm sure John Henry is with them, cheering them on. The Forever Orange community is all rooting for you, Mavericks, so you better kick ass and take names! :-P

Farewell Penthouse

2007-09-21T15:14:00.000-07:00

This weekend will mark the end of an era - John Henry's family is closing up the 8Th Avenue "penthouse." I know John Henry would LOVE that I'm calling it that! ;-P

I say it's the end of an era because as most of you know the many large and small gatherings held there could be compared to an era. Like the last days of disco - the times, the people, the memories are like no other and can never be duplicated.

The hardest part is not going there anymore. Being in his space just brings to mind all the Scrabble games played on the floor in front of the fireplace, the packed parties where there were so many people you could barely move from one end of the apartment to the other, and the evenings spent on the deck just having drinks and chilling out. I will miss the way I feel when I stand in the bedroom that he painted because he "wanted to feel like he was at the beach." Whether it be Hawaii or Fire Island, his mission was accomplished!

One of my fondest memories at the apartment was when I sat on the white flokati rug with John Henry, David, and Kevin and just lounging in front of the fire place, told them I was taking them all to see Madonna in concert for their respective birthdays. It was a big deal to me because, at a time when I was broke and was not going to be able to go to one of her concerts, they all chipped in and had bought me a ticket. Now, at a better time in my life, I had the chance to repay what to me was a very sweet gift. I will never forget the looks on their faces as we lounged on that rug and the happiness I felt just seeing it. It wouldn't seem like much to someone else, but it is a memory that keeps coming back to me these past few weeks and making me smile inside.

The nice thing is that even though we will miss the irreplaceable time we have spent there, we are keeping those memories when we walk out of that orange hallway. They won't be contained in those walls but, as John Henry reminds us, within each of us.

What are some of your favorite memories of the 8Th Avenue apartment?

The Boy Posse

2007-09-20T13:05:00.000-07:00

This weekend I will travel to Milford, PA; the new-ish home of my dear friend Greg (http://www.gzuk.com/), to celebrate his birthday. I will go and hang there with my beloved boy posse. What straight woman doesn't want to surround herself with handsome, witty, and intelligent men - even if they are gay? Unfortunately, my posse is now one boy short.

The last time I was with the full boy posse was the last weekend in July to celebrate my birthday. The posse converged at my house on a beautiful Saturday morning for a day at the beach. We packed up the cars and set off for the sun, sand, and surf of Island Beach State Park.

It was a great day! There is nothing better than spending time in the place you love most with the people you love most. The water was perfect - warm enough to stay in for hours, cool enough to keep the jellyfish at bay. Everyone enjoyed the water, but John Henry and I stayed in for hours. We talked about future collaborations for our businesses, the big move to Australia, and stopping at the fish market on the way home because he was craving clams. All this while we jumped the waves way out in the ocean. In his very John Henry way, when a big wave would come he would dive underneath it and come bursting out the top with his leg up in the air and his arms fluttering into a contorted pose - an impromptu interpretive water ballet. We would crack up laughing, as usual. My favorite, though, was when he burst out of the water with both arms high over his head and at the highest point he would open them in a sweeping motion as if presenting me with the world - it was his sun salutation. Such a fitting pose for his personality.

We only left the water when the lifeguards closed down the beach due to impending thunderstorms, but our first stop was the fish market where John Henry bought a bag of 100 little neck clams. We brought them home, cooked em' up, and had a feast. We spent the night playing games, teasing my dogger - Bailey, and enjoying the cupcakes he had brought all the way down from the city on a bus.

My boy posse, as usual, wrapped me in a blanket of love - a sun salutation. I've just started back to Yoga this week and each time I do the sun salutation, I now think of that glorious day. So this weekend I will wrap one of the longest members of my boy posse in a blanket of love and start on the next set of memories. I hope you all are doing the same with your respective "posses."

The Rainbow Connection

2007-09-12T22:38:00.001-07:00

The last few weeks have been like no other in my life. I'm a 37 year old woman and have experienced a great deal of loss in those years. Yet, none had prepared me for the passing of my best friend, John Henry Rew.

Simply put:

To know him, is to love him.

Our red-headed hottie with a personality to match, was the king of fabulosity and fun. He enjoyed life, and his enthusiasm and passion were contagious. It was hard to spend time with him and not feel good about yourself. His love of all things Orange was just an extension of his fiery wit, mischievous personality, and fantastic style. John Henry made everyday a party.

His friend Annie Lawrence recently described him as "...the soul of generosity." Always willing to listen and advise, open his home to friends and strangers alike, and go the extra mile to show you the more optimistic side of life, John Henry made deep, lasting impressions on all who knew him.

During the gathering after his funeral service, I had the unexpected honor of toasting our boy. Not having much notice, I really didn't know what I would say. And although I gave my best heartfelt toast, raising our glasses "to the orange", there is something deeper that has stayed with me.

I looked out on a large group of people; Family, childhood friends, college classmates, colleagues, teamates, and his beloved partner, Colin - A wide cross-section of people as diverse as the colors of the rainbow flag he loved to adorn himself with. And I was and am moved to have seen all his community in one place, connected to eachother by his beautiful orange aura. A true gift to us all in a time of great sadness and confusion.

I hope that this blog will be an instrument to keep our connection alive in his honor. A place to Share our stories, pictures, videos, thoughts, and lessons. A place to continue to be his community together.

"...Someday we'll find it, the Rainbow Connection. The lovers, the dreamers, and me."