Closing time for Gerard’s blog – plus an update on the poetry book
I knew it had to happen, although I’d been delaying it: closing down Gerard Vanderleun’s blog. For one thing, he left instructions to me to leave it up for two years and then to take it down. So it was his wish. I’ve been tending it by posting photos and open threads three days per week as its once-robust readership dwindled, and now it’s been two years and two months since Gerard’s death.
So it’s time to do it – really, past time to do it. But still difficult. That blog was his lovingly tended work, full of photos and essays and poetry and humor. There were over five thousand posts there, and the number was only that small because he’d gotten rid of everything prior to 2017 except some old favorites. Gerard could be ruthless that way; he was always pruning the blog.
If you go there now you’ll see a message that it’s closed (some strange code has snuck in, too, and I don’t know how to get rid of that so I’ll let it be). I’m busy canceling the autopays and after that the site will probably give forth a basic 404 message. But I’ve edited the essay book and I’ve got the poetry book in the works, with the latter probably due to appear in the next month or two. I’ll announce it here when it’s available for purchase.
But before I closed Gerard’s blog down I copied a bunch more of his essays into another document and I may – accent on the may – decide to put out a second essay book of his. I’m not sure yet if I will, but I’m considering it.
One of Gerard’s readers has also started a new site so that whoever wants to can continue to post and talk: here it is, in case you’re interested.
Gerard really liked the poem The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. And so do I. So for this occasion, I’ll close with a verse from it that seems appropriate:
Come, fill the Cup, and in the Fire of Spring
The Winter Garment of Repentance fling:
The Bird of Time has but a little way
To fly—and Lo! the Bird is on the Wing.
This goes along with your recent thread on the seemingly accelerated passage of time. Another sad day for you, but so many happy memories.
I know it was Gerard’s wish but closing down his blog completely is rather sad. As the saying goes everyone has two deaths: the moment they physically die and then the moment that the last person ever speaks their name. This feels like it’s just accelerating Gerard’s second death.
You have been a true and loyal friend to him, neo!
This has required a lot of work on your part but you rose to the task and kept your word.
God bless you, neo.
I know that I am acquainted you only electronically, and I never dwelt in Gerard’s sphere at all, but I know as well that that is my loss.
neo:
I hope that WordPress offers a convenient way to download a copy of Gerard’s blog.
If not, I can do it, once web access has been restored.
I truly hope that you will publish a second book of Gerard’s essays. He was such a gifted, perceptive writer. I appreciate all of the work you’ve done to publish the first book and to keep American Digest online for the past two years.
Thanks Neo
huxley:
Thanks a lot for the offer, but a couple of Gerard’s readers have already done that.
I suspect that searching for interesting things and events, remembering those from the past, making beautiful photographs, composing poems, compiling posts, and then interacting with his many blog-friends were indeed a “lovingly tended work.”
As the old saying goes, the joy is in the journey.
Heartfelt Neo. You have created a beautiful legacy of your dear Gerard. Blessings.
I’m jealous he had someone so special in his life. I don’t think I’ll have that.
But at least I know that beauty can exist
A lot of people don’t find love until Maybe it’s over. But hope never dies