FAREWELL

Cat Faber, Dave Alway
Originally uploaded by Looly Huheet.

I share the sadness of many in the filk community at the passing of Dave Alway (tnatj here on LJ).

I didn't particularly know him -- we exchanged a word in passing here and there at conventions -- but I remember him as a rich and powerful voice that brought music and poetry to life; and as a person who radiated warmth and a whimsical dignity. Many have noted today how encouraging and welcoming he had been over the years to people in the filk community, and many of his actions -- right down to making and handing out all those buttons (got two of my own that I'm looking at now with sadness and gratitude) seemed aimed at making it even more of a community, of a family.

I seem to recall, a few months back, an exchange on LJ in which he explained his method for making picks on the Pegasus ballot. He put -- sigh, I initially wrote "puts" -- aside any questions of "merit" or worth or so forth (pretty much all the nominees are worthy of the award) and chose to honor as broad a range of people as he could, seeing the award as a way to encourage songwriters and performers and to further enhance the community ... he wanted to swing those doors open as wide as possible. That, to me, says a lot about him. And that lot about him it says is a very good thing.

I'll miss hearing his songs and readings, and just benefitting from him beneficient presence. As saddening as the news is, it's good to know that the end came fairly quickly, without prolonged suffering -- and that the last few days of his life were spent among friends and his brother, among music and laughter and joy.

Condolences to peteralway and his other brothers. I'm very, very sorry.

State O'Mind: Sad.

MORE GOODBYES

Further condolences to _bud_ on the loss of his uncle and to phillip2637 on the loss of a friend and colleague.

This is not a preferred way to start a week. *Sigh.*