Well, I am back from the Celebration of Life for my friend Bill. For everyone who donated and helped me get there, thank you! I will note that I think Vancouver is the most expensive city I’ve ever visited, as it costs more than London, Paris, or New York City. Feel free to hit the tip jar in the upper right as it took a chunk out of things even with all the help.
After the very full week(s) at church, I led the small Compline last Wednesday evening, went home, and packed. Thursday morning at oh-dark-30 I was up and at the airport bright and early to catch my flight. I ended up heading to Denver first, where I did find a delightful “speakeasy” to spend my 3.5 hour layover. May do a post on it as it was fun, though I was disappointed that I had to leave just before the marrow-bone plate would have been available.
From Denver it was a straight shot to Vancouver, and I arrived late afternoon. I stayed near the airport as hotels downtown were around $500 a night low end and you don’t want to know high end. Airport area was high, but not that high. Bill’s widow had told me of some places around there that he liked to go, so I took off and walked around to them. Nice enough area, had fun, got some food, got some more food, and went to bed.
The next morning, got breakfast at the hotel (only real option nearby), got a shower, and headed out to see what I could of Vancouver. Again, Bill’s widow had provided some excellent suggestions though I did them a little differently than some.
Vancouver has extensive public transportation including a light/elevated (mostly) rail system called Skytrain. There was a station about 100 yards from the hotel, and I took it downtown to the terminus. From there, it was a short walk to the waterfront. Once there, I headed west, found the seawall trail, and walked along it until I hit Stanley Park. The park is huge, and I really wish time had allowed me to walk all the way around it and even through it. It looks to be a two- to three-day exploration just on the park.
Not having that much time, I stayed on the east side and eventually came out in the area of Robson Street. Having been told that there were lots of neat shops and places along it, and that it was headed in the general direction of the Italian Cultural Center where the Celebration of Life was to be held, I hit it at the start and started walking. Once I made it down to the BC Place Stadium and Rogers Arena, I used Apple Maps to guide me on the route to the Cultural Center. Got there a bit early, so went into one of the two Italian restaurants to refresh and rehydrate. For the record, the day ended with a solid 8 miles of walking.
The Celebration of Life was wonderful. I finally got to meet some of his family and friends I had only heard about over the years. There were people there from his earliest days as well as from his later years. We shared stories, laughter, and a few tears. Let me share a little bit of Bill with you.
I met Bill the first time I worked (contractor) for NASA. He moved into the apartment next door to me/right behind me (depending on how you want to look at things). Bill never met a stranger. Within a week, this Chinese-Canadian crazy guy was a friend. His take on American culture was unique, and could make you laugh as well as think a bit. Quite artistic in his own way, and over the years I’ve gotten video and other cards from him that were amazing.
He was a designer, and one thing he did very well was design human/technology interfaces. He was working for Intergraph at that time, and one thing I can share is that he ended up designing one of the “dashboards” aka control panels for the ISS. Human/machine interfaces were his thing and he did them well. He ended up working for Microsoft and some other interesting companies over the years. Not bad for a kid from Calgary who used a Commodore 64 (and a previous computer) to learn computers, programming, and design (and get his younger brother into tech as well).
While we were both in Huntsville that time, he became an integral part of my family Thanksgiving. He was all-in on the traditions, learning the traditions, and I still laugh thinking about him talking with my Dad about football. There were times Dad would just shake his head, laughing, at some of his takes. The day after Thanksgiving each year, he would drive from Huntsville to Memphis to visit Graceland. Drive there and visit the day after, then the next day drive back to Huntsville. My mom always worried about him and was relieved when he got back. Thanksgiving was never the same after we both moved away. He took a job with Microsoft in NYC, and I remember my mom carefully asking ‘he didn’t try to drive to Graceland after Thanksgiving, did he?’
I am horrible about staying in touch; but, Bill wasn’t. I wasn’t the only person he made sure to stay in contact with. One of the earliest groups of friends he had been a part of was the Jewish community where he grew up. Next came some Italians, and his wedding was actually in the Italian hometown of one of those friends. He married a little late in life to the love of his life. I didn’t need him to tell me how much he loved her, I knew just from watching him around her and the way he talked about her. Oh, he said the words, but the other two things were as blaring trumpets of his feelings for her.
I got to meet her not long after they got married as we all ended up in Vegas at the same time. I was there for a conference, not sure why they were there but we were all so happy that we could get together. It was a wonderful visit and I knew just how lucky he was to have her in his life rather quickly.
We all had a laugh at the comment that he wasn’t terribly Chinese. Chopsticks? Fork please! A lot of favorite foods were Italian, and he picked the Italian Cultural Center as the site of his Celebration for more than one reason. Again, the night proved he never met a stranger — and he kept more than one group together over the years.
On the one hand, I’m realizing that there is now a huge hole in my life. Yet, at the same time, it isn’t empty. The love he had for all of us, all of his friends who were family, still fills it. That’s a heck of a legacy for someone to leave. Few can pull it off, but Bill did.
To all who made it possible for me to go, thank you. Being there meant the world to me, and my being there ended up meaning a lot to his extended (Jewish, Italian, Chinese, etc.) family. Great people, and we will try to live up to Bill and stay in touch.
I’m exhausted, but oddly happy and content. Who knows if I will make it out to Vancouver again (winning the lottery wouldn’t hurt), but am glad I got there as I can see why he liked the area.
More soon.