Posted by Raymond Chapman on March 18, 2003
Ron PercellPlease do not take this post as selfish, but I need to express my sentiments to a lot of people and this avenue seems the most practical.
Fist, my task yesterday at Rick's funeral was the most difficult challenge of my life. I have never felt as inadequate as then. Because I am just naturally an emotional person, I knew that my task had to keep me as stable as possible in order to complete the job. I couldn't afford the luxury of breaking down. And, then, how do you put the words together to say what needs to be said?
Surrounded by my heroes that I had admired for the past twenty-five years or more, I felt like the street bum that had just stumbled into the king's banquet. And then it was my job to put into sentences what each of them wanted to say. What an impossible task.
In true family tradition so many of you called, wrote, and dropped in my pocket special words of encouragement. Many responded to my call for help with prayer. I carried with me to California a print out of all the posts here and elsewhere, notes from phone calls, and two special guardian angels.
On Sunday, as our "family" gathered at the funeral home, I listened to the "Rick stories" and tried to absorb the spirit of what each of you were trying to convey. Thank you, Danny, for taking the time to pray with me. None of you can imagine the pressure that I felt as I wrote my eulogy.
Afterwards, so many of you came to express your thanks for what was said. You will never know how grateful I am for those words and for the opportunity (and tremendous honor) to speak at Rick's funeral. Your prayers worked and I was able to get through it without falling apart. Now, later was my time to cry as I tried to tell everyone bye and leave for the airport.
I truely believe that it was not me that was speaking but each of you and that your prayers were the only thing that enabled me to do what I did. Thank you does not seem adequate, but "thank you".
On the flight home I was overwhelmed by the great bond of family that we have in this craft. Someday I hope to put it into words. Our loss this past week was a shared one, and the burden was made easier by that special "spirit" that was present.
One of the things that Chuck Davis said at the funeral was that he had meant to thank Rick for all that he had done for him and just never got around to saying it. Let's not have another one of these "gatherings" and have to say, "I wish...". Make sure that those around you know how special they are to you.
I am a blessed person because I am a part of a caring, loving group of people from all over the world. I thank you for allowing me to be a part of this family.
Just one last remark. At the lunch after the funeral, someone slipped something into my coat pocket and thanked me for my message. It was a huried trip to the airport and an exhausted body that fell into bed at 1 am this morning, but when I was unpacking before leaving for the studio, I found in that coat pocket $300 that you had gathered for my plane fare. I have no way of knowing who all contributed to that, but to each of you I thank you greatly. It was not just the money that was special (although it WAS money) but the thought that meant so very much more to me. Thank you, thank you.
Robert Beverly took a bunch of photos, along with what I took at the luncheon. We are going to combine them and put them on a CD, along with any others available, such as those from Kim Zanetti. If you have any photos that you would like to have included, please let me know.
When I get the photos assembled, a CD will be available to anyone who asks. Note: these are photos of folks at the funeral service, not of Rick's work. Other projects are under way for a CD of his stuff.
Lee LittlewoodRaymond,
Your words touched our hearts, and helped heal our souls.
It's truly a pleasure to have made your acquaintance.
I would also like to thank Rick's family for their gracious hospitality, it was good to see the healing, and the happiness of family at dinner.
Thank you,
Ron
David A. McDonaldMany thanks to you, Raymond. Words can be hard to find and inadequate anyway, but they're still the tools we've got to work with. I'm really glad you were willing (and everybody knew you'd be able) to say the words and be the focus point. I hope it comes back to you doubled and tripled.
Janette BaloghMr.Raymond Chapman,
As I've expressed to you in the past, you have always been one of my heroes! Today you stand before me representing even more than that. I want to take this opportunity to share with you how much I have grown as a sign writer and designer through the years partly because of your unknowing influence on me--Thank you so very much!
I am proud of you and honored to be your friend and after feeling and witnessing the way you carried yourself at Mr. Rick Glawson's funeral I am humbled and can only hope to emulate your character in my life and future.
I love you!
Thanks,
David
Rick SacksIn reading what you convey here Raymond, followed with the responses underneath and on other posts too, ... well, I'm touched. I realize just how rich Rick Glawson was in the quality of his relationships. A wealth beyond measure, and one he produced simply by being himself.
I will wait a little longer before sending off a little note to Lola. I remember that when I lost my own father, the times alone, after the dust settled, were the hardest times. Those were the times the walls seemed to close in, and the emptiness felt engulfing.
I also remember how utterly flabbergasted and honoured I was to see so many of my friends gather to pay respects for my dad, and also to comfort me, and my family. Some who had never even met him, but just knew him thru my love for him.
It was then that I discovered how much a memorial service really mattered to those left behind. I am so very glad that Lola had such friends around her at this time, and that the friendships were such deep and caring ones.
Indeed, it's times like these that strengthen, and as Rixax states, solidifies the bonds. It is the very finest meaning of "family".
I am also very happy to know that Rick Glawson's relatives got to know so much more of him during all this. It's odd how it happens sometimes, that we can learn more about a person after they are gone. Even those in our own family, we learn more about them by what and who they leave in their wake. I can only imagine how wide Rick's relative's eyes were opened by such a grand service.
You all are very fine people, and I want to take this opportunity to let you know how much I appreciate and love knowing you.
Losing someone special truly makes you grasp tighter onto those you treasure around you.
Pretty mushy stuff eh?
Heck, there you have it, and I feel better for having said it.
Nettie
Kent SmithFirst was the days of both incoming and outgoing phone calls and the shock and tears and sharing over the phone. Percell called and asked me to join him driving to LA. As I drove down with Ron, we had such wonderful sharing time and grew closer and then stopped enroute to pick up John Yarnell. We walked into the mortuary and exchanged so many tears and smiles and hugs and memories and hopes that the bonding grew tighter than sign talk ever got us. The rawness of our loss was so powerfull solidifying our bond and opening our hearts in a way nothing else would do. I had not intended to enter the room where the open box was, but there sat Lola and she is much of what I was there for, so I went in and cried with her and kept looking at what used to be my friend. I went over ther and got close and it became very clear that Rick Glawson was not in there. It was a comforting moment and sadness lifted....not permanantly though. That evening many of us went to a brewery that had the walls lined with Rick's framed glass pieces, and the sharing intensified. Then the next day we attended the service in the mortuary and then the graveside service. Each event seemed to touch us in a differing way. The crowd then moved to a restaurant where a sit down meal was served to all with round tables for around ten. Folks circulated from table to table and had much to share. By the end of theis time it seemed that the conversations were about how we were gonna deal with the future. This seemed like a very healthy progression of emotion for all. I know it's not over yet, but there is a closeness and respect that is deeper as a result of participating in this that I think will continue to grow. I want to express my gratitude to those that were doing their part in the planning of this and stepping in and caring for Lola and those that stayed on after the buzz settled to follow throug with more finishing details.
Mike JacksonThanks too from me Ray, you were our rock. I have rarely been to such a service where the minister actually knew the deceased. The reactions from the standing-room crowd showed that you knew him well and honored his memory well. This service was so different, personal and special. Rick's brothers today were perpetually expressing their gratitude and that they got some great insight into who their brother had become. Lola was so comforted by all of our presence as well as your words and the sincerity that everyone expressed in their caring for Rick and for her. She is much better today, had a couple naps at Judi's insistance and went to be less stressed. We hope tomorrow will be even better and that we will be able to go home. Remember to send her a note too as she will need the support for some time.
Pete McKearnanHi Raymond,
You were our man of steel.
Sincerely,
Mike Jackson
Raymond- I would like to thank you for sharing your experiences of Rick' s funeral. From the sounds of it it seems that you did a wonderful job officiating Rick's funeral. As I live in Portland, Oregon it is too far away to travel to his funeral but I really missed being there. I thank you for the personal and emotional account of your experience of the funeral. I hope that other folks who attended can also share their experiences with those of us who could not attend. Once again thanks for your touching posting.
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