As Halloween season sets in, a ghost of the past made its way to my phone today. A photo sent from a TG friend displayed the headstone for RICHARD LAND which led to many memories of his beyond brilliant writing, his historical knowledge, and his complex and intelligent mind. I recall my first time at the Spa in 2015, how he tricked me into drinking the healing waters at the Big Red Spring and how much I would love it. I still can\'t believe how I fell hook, line, and sinker as I spit it out immediately . . . but I have mischievously pulled the same on several first timers in the decade since!
Memories aside, the photo was from a cemetery. The photo showed the headstone marking today as one year since his passing. For some, that initial year when one passes is like time in prison when time can not pass fast enough. For others that continue onward without that burden, it is a reminder that time flies when they realize it has been a year. I guess that perspective, at least in part, depends on whether you are battling ghosts and demons of the past or not and how close you were to the deceased.
I wouldn\'t know anyone here if not for a chance (happenstance) richiebee appearance at Fairmount Park circa 2008. Then, after I posted on the board the first time literally years later, he reached out correctly handicapping who I was in the room at Fairmount years before even though we didn\'t speak that day. The number of friends, memories, and connections all b/c of richiebee can\'t be measured.
As a groom/asst with Bernard Flint, his favorite horse was named Timeless Magic. That\'s how I feel about many of the memories and friends richiebee\'s chance encounter brought to my life.
As the timeless granite headstone says quite succinctly, \"IMPOSSIBLE TO FORGET\"
RIP richiebee one year later
