Mercurial > hg > BCS

comparison funeral.txt @ 86:7f58116cd2fa

Find changesets by keywords (author, files, the commit message), revision number or hash, or revset expression.
final
author Henry Thompson <ht@markup.co.uk>
date Thu, 11 Sep 2025 12:54:05 -0400
parents ba04e16fabc6
children 734b3106ef4e
comparison
equal deleted inserted replaced
85:ba04e16fabc6 86:7f58116cd2fa
33 first week or two of the actions of the newly inaugurated dictator in 33 first week or two of the actions of the newly inaugurated dictator in
34 Washington, and he wanted to know if, given my long membership in the 34 Washington, and he wanted to know if, given my long membership in the
35 Quaker Meeting in Edinburgh, he could become a Quaker. I had to say 35 Quaker Meeting in Edinburgh, he could become a Quaker. I had to say
36 that our normal application process took rather a long time, and 36 that our normal application process took rather a long time, and
37 usually was only initiated after someone had been attending Meeting 37 usually was only initiated after someone had been attending Meeting
38 for Worship with us for quite a while. But then I remmebered that 38 for Worship with us for quite a while. But then I remembered that
39 Brian had actually been married in a Quaker Meeting back in the early 39 Brian had actually been married in a Quaker Meeting back in the early
40 1970s, and he thought that it might even have been in Toronto. If so, 40 1970s, and he thought that it might even have been in Toronto. If so,
41 the preparation for that would have involved a similar kind of 41 the preparation for that would have involved a similar kind of
42 process, and perhaps it would be possible for the Toronto Meeting to 42 process, and perhaps it would be possible for the Toronto Meeting to
43 take him on. Well, it wasn't Toronto, it turns out, but Brian did 43 take him on. Well, it wasn't Toronto, it turns out, but Brian did
67 I want to give thanks for the grace of God as shown forth in the life 67 I want to give thanks for the grace of God as shown forth in the life
68 of Brian Cantwell Smith. Brian was a giant: physically tall and 68 of Brian Cantwell Smith. Brian was a giant: physically tall and
69 substantial, towering intellectually, a warm and tender friend, lover 69 substantial, towering intellectually, a warm and tender friend, lover
70 and husband. In the two 1/2 years since his terminal cancer 70 and husband. In the two 1/2 years since his terminal cancer
71 diagnosis, although his body slowly degraded, he remained himself in 71 diagnosis, although his body slowly degraded, he remained himself in
72 all the ways that mattered. 72 all the ways that mattered. His life spoke, to me and to many, and it
73 still does.
74
75 Brian's physical living has come to an end, but his life is still as
76 real and true as the pyramids or the ignition of the Sun, and that
77 life, in its entirety, is still with us. Perhaps my excuse for not
78 being as devasted by his death as I expected to be is precisely that
79 I've been used to physical distance from him for so long. He was with
80 me then, and he still is.
73 81
74 ... 82 ...
75 83
76 84
77 85
84 only a dodgy drilled well for water, a diesel generator for power and 92 only a dodgy drilled well for water, a diesel generator for power and
85 a rusty old house trailer to live in. 93 a rusty old house trailer to live in.
86 94
87 At this time Brian was running a major research lab at Xerox Palo Alto, 95 At this time Brian was running a major research lab at Xerox Palo Alto,
88 co-founding Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility and helping 96 co-founding Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility and helping
89 to create an interdisciplinary research center at Stanford. But being 97 to create an interdisciplinary research centre at Stanford. But being
90 Brian, with Susan's help, he put together a plan for a compound, got 98 Brian, with Susan's help, he put together a plan for a compound, got
91 Julian to design it, scraped together the money to build it, and moved 99 Julian to design it, scraped together the money to build it, and moved
92 in. 100 in.
93 101