Ron Rays

Note: I posted this story and photograph as today’s “Photo Of The Moment” as well.

        Today, my last day on Martha's Vineyard, I made the twenty mile pilgrimage to Aquinnah at the tip of the island. Aquinnah. Land of colored clay cliffs, nude women, and the stoned, naked revelry of bygone days. Bygone days that used to include my best friend Ron. He died in a motorcycle accident on August 30, 2001.
        I went there to be with him today.
        And he showed up.
        I spent a total of five minutes at Aquinnah today, because it's very remote, and I had a ferry to catch. When I arrived, a hole in the foreboding sky was just starting to open up. As I stood there, thinking of my friend, the sky kept opening. The few people around me weren't paying any attention to what was happening above. They were looking at the beautifully colored cliffs. But I kept watching the sky.
        Within a few moments, light began streaking through the hole and illuminating the water below. As soon as that happened, I felt it.
        Nobody else on the beach was looking up. Nobody else saw what I saw. Or knew what I knew.
        My body started shaking, and I started crying.
        My old friend was communicating to me. In a way that only the two of us understood.
        Ron said to me several times that when he died, he wanted his ashes spread over Gay Head, now known as Aquinnah. We didn't end up cremating him, but his words have always stayed with me. He loved it so much there. We loved it so much there.
        And now, after all this time, here we were again. This time, just the two of us.
        But instead of me spreading Ron all over Gay Head, while I was at Gay Head, Ron spread himself all over me.
        The moment I had to leave, the hole in the sky closed up. And he was gone.
        But he left me another priceless gift. A gift that he gave to me thousands of times when he was alive. He gave me a memory. He gave me a piece of himself. Forever. And no matter what, those are gifts that can never be taken away. Ever.
        Once again, thank you Ron. I love you. I always have. And I always will.

©2008 Clint Piatelli. All Rights Reserved.

Comments

[Ron]

Passed on August 30, 2001 ....august 27th is Ron-day, birthday..... both meaningful days thou.

[Clint Piatelli]

Thanx for the correction, old buddy. You were always better at remembering dates than I was. I'll modify the post and set it straight. I miss you so much.