Editor’s note: Sometimes I wonder why I keep running a memorial piece for Eric every year. He’s been gone 7 years. I guess it’s because this was his blog. When he died his last request was that it continue, so I carried it on, and it seems right to acknowledge him periodically since without him this blog would not exist nor would the Tsunami Rangers, and without their influence many things in the kayaking world would have played out differently over time. And also because I love him. We all lose people. People die. They go away. Shit happens, and we grieve. I hope that when I post these memorials it might bring a little healing to others who have lost someone they love. This piece was written by Henry Scott Holland (January 27, 1847 – March 17, 1918). Holland was Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Oxford.
Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner. All is well. Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before. How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again.
Please feel free to comment and share memories of Eric or someone you loved and lost below! Thanks!
Thank you Nancy, What a wonderful piece by Holland, truly captures in many ways what I think is true, real and what I think Don Diego is whispering on the tips of those crashing waves at Mushroom rock, in the Marine Reserve, in front of Don Miguels house and all the magical places of our oceans and planet. I see and feel him in those waves, in the power, wildness and the challenge to enter that interface between land and sea as Don Diego would say.
Amazing the far reaching impacts indeed of his spirit and what he and Jim created and nurtured. I spoke with a relatives spouse this weekend who kayaked in Ocean and Rivers in Spain a number of years ago just across the border from France, made me wonder if the gregarious wave warriors my relative padded with were the Ocean Dragons, inspired by Don Diego and Admiral Kuk, probably where, them Dragons another manifestation of Don Diegos spirit! I saw Don Quixote ballet last week and Don Diego is and always will be among many morphs, the Man of La Mancha. This weekend, and almost every weekend Don Miguel and I hug that Don Diego and Misha spirit tree on the ridge of the Purrisima hike close to an expansive view of mavericks and one of his favorite surfing spots, so nice to connect with him on a regular basis, so nice that he is always there, that he always will be and he always has been there as the Holland wrote. So thank you and of course we shall pay homage each year to Don Diego man of the winds, waves, the sea, the sun and moon, how could we do anything else? He is still on assignment and will be forever!
Thanks for a beautiful comment, El Rey. Eric is indeed still with us in many shapes and forms. I had no idea that after someone died they could still be so present, but if anyone could, he would. I love that you and Michael visit him regularly. I’m sure he appreciates the love 🙂
Nancy that is a beautiful message Eric left for you. I want to copy that for future use!
Love, Melinda
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Melinda. I actually got this off Facebook. Someone had lost a loved one and had posted this quote and I thought, that’s it! That’s what I’m posting for Eric’s anniversary! It seemed so appropriate. I really do feel like he’s around, especially lately. Good to hear from you.
Even after 7 years I can still see his expressions, remember his witty and inciteful comments and always hear his laughter. The imprint he left is indelible.
Nancy, you and Eric are amazingly connected in life and even after he moved to the next room, somehow his life story still continues with yours and everyone who knew and loved him.
I was a student of his at Cal State University, Hayward (long before it was called CSU, East Bay). He was, by far, my favorite instructor during my entire undergrad experience. He even wrote me a letter of recommendation to get into grad school. I think about him every time I go to Half Moon Bay and see the ocean. Do I remember any of my other professors? No, not really. Do I remember Dr. Eric Soares? Yes! I can still hear his voice in our lectures and see his passionate smile. I wish nothing but happiness for all of those lives he touched. I miss him and wish he was still here so I could tell him all of this in person. I hope he is riding his X-1 Rocket every day!
Hey Tyler, thanks so much for your comment. One of the things I love about posting Eric’s memorial every year is that people come out of the woodwork to talk about how he touched their lives. It gives me joy to know how many of his students still remember him and talk about him. He was one of my greatest teachers too. Together we carry his spirit forward. He would have loved knowing how important he was in making the world a better place through his positive influence. Thanks again. Vaya con Dios!