Tuesday, July 18
We have opened our doors to all family and friends to say goodbye. The response has been simply overwhelming. My notes on the last few days:
I feel like the luckiest man in the world………..The power of these visits, cards, letters and texts have been so far beyond my ability to describe………….My emotions run profoundly deep…………My heart is gigantic and wide-open……….I sing with joy, despite being emotionally exhausted………We remember, share and set the record straight together……… I’ve had time to get my head around the reality of my mortality, now I watch fondly as my loved ones truly wrap their head around the situation…..….This allows us to be lighter and free ……..Words elude me as, you now become the air I breathe………
A note on future visitor logistics: Folks from out of town, please contact us to arrange a few day visit – we will make time. Local folks, please consider randomly dropping by between 9am and 1pm on Thursday and Friday of this week. If this goes well, we well set similar times for next week.
Thank you one and all you – WE LOVE YOU!
We love you too- See
you soon. Love Norene and Lloyd
Mike your words and heart continue to inspire- it has been great to see you these past days.
My ‘regret’ is my workaholic-like tendencies that have kept me from so much human relating this life in Eugene – may I continue to find the balance that brings smiles as much as you do: that Mike-thing I can always remember and feel fed by.
Thirteen thank-yous, and honey in your heart.
No, I think WE are the LUCKIEST to have you in our lives, now and forever! Love
from one of your BIGGEST & GREATEST fans, now and always! I love you Micheal Heil, Mikey “D”, or you, the big Ya-hooey!
Mike,
I continue to think of you SO often and pray for you and Laurie in this phase of your journey. I am feel so blessed to have been able to see you during our visit to Oregon in June. What a treat it was to spend the afternoon walking through the market and then breakfast with the clan. Your warmth, kind spirit and sweet laugh will always be such fond memories for me. Thank you for your influence and friendship with Bob, I know that he is struggling in how to say goodbye. We should have planned 20 trips to Eugene prior to this one…but unfortunately we cannot hit the rewind button. Wishing we lived closer for sure, sending hugs and love, Carol
Thanks Mike! Your blog, and you and Laurie are amazing and inspiring in the way you are handling the cards you have been dealt. You always have been great at handling the cards. I have to tell you that you have always been a great reminder to me to lighten up – not my natural state. The joy with which you live your life, the fullness of your life with your teaching and travel and all that you do, your quick smile and laugh and wit; all of these things amaze and inspire all of us around you. Hugs and lots of love for you and for Laurie, and the whole family.
Marilyn Mangus
I have been thinking of you often and so glad to come to visit tomorrow (Friday).
I feel that I have been the lucky one to know you and Laurie. And again Mike you inspire me with all you do , especially at this stage.
Memories of Mike (and Mikie); remember when everybody called Mike Mikie! Here are a couple that come to mind.
Smith Rock climbing trip, spring 1991. This is the first time in my memory bank when Mike and I did a trip with just him and I. We went over in my 1969 Saab, and it was distinctive because it was just us two (can I use that pithy word bonding?) and I remember going on and on with my circa 1990’s critique of all things and Mike pretty much letting me, and encouraging me, to go off, with him saying, “it’s interesting hearing your take on the world.” Very open minded of you Mike; I was speaking some heretical ideas. We went to the backside of Smith (west facing side) and there was a new climb called Hemp Liberation that I wanted to try. At the crux roof move I was getting desperate having clipped the bolt but not clipped the rope so had slack rope and Mike was preparing for a big fall, but then with milli seconds to spare I clipped the rope and then came off only to dangle in space staring up at the clipped rope and then down at Mike as he screamed AWESOME DUDE. Thanks for catching that fall Mike!!
Joshua Tree climbing trip spring 1991. We had a big group down at J-tree, but then a storm came in and some real snow started to pile up. In the morning, Mike, Ken, me and Annie retreated into Mike’s van and Ken (I think it was) pulled out some pot. Annie did not approve; she was more in denial of the snow storm and the obvious change of plans that was going to have to take place than the rest of us, and thus she became the comic foil. As we passed the pot around and started to get the giggles thinking about the contrast of what we wanted to do (climb) and what was happening (heavy snowfall), one of the tents collapsed from the weight of snow. This sent us into howls of laughter as if the weather gods were listening to our denial and then decided to send us a little message. Mike really enjoys this story.
Long email from Mike when Evelyn and I were splitting up. This was Austral summer 2005 and I was sending out emails to friends announcing the split and making plans for my upcoming trip over to the States. Up to this point, Mike had been a one-to-three sentence email correspondent depending on the details of the plans that we wer making. Being in Australia and sort of cut off from friends and family, emails had become important communication for me and I was disappointed in most people’s lack of letter writing capacity. But then, Mike sent back this very thoughtful, composed and supportive letter, obviously realizing my despair. When I got to Eugene and came over to their house we took a long walk and had a lengthy debrief. I think this was a turning point for me from Mikie as a great climbing buddy to Mike as a great friend. Thanks Mike.
Eric-
Your 3 anecdotes bring a smile to my face and remind me of fun times almost 1/2 a lifetime away. I perfectly recall “The Catch” on Hemp Liberation – I was so relieved to find you hanging in mid air. I also fondly recall “The Crash” – the time when tents gave way to snow, engorged rivulets tore away the desert sand and we bailed for the day.
Best of course, is illustrated in you final story – a coming of age – a transformation. Now we in addition to being age old climbing buddies, we are very best of friends! The finest feeling of all. Thank You my friend!
Dearest Mike,
I’m sending you my love in this format so that your attention is at your pace and timing. No adequate words to say what your life energy has meant to me all these years, so I’ll leave you with an image of you that I hold dear to my heart. I replay it in my mind every time I read your blog… (We were not yet colleagues but Ray Beard had introduced us). So years ago, I was out dancing at Art in the Vineyard one late afternoon warm July and in the undulating crowd, literally bumped into you–we hugged, we laughed, and we danced away from each other into the crowd. I’ll never forget that grin, the crinkle of your eyes and long flowing hair, gyrating to the music and pounding rhythmically within the crowd. And time passed. Then we were teachers together and I grew to know your integrity, gentle spirit, and nurturing kind demeanor with children, your genuine love affair with knowledge. And now, with grace and dignity, your final lesson is constant. I won’t come in person, I just wanted you to know how cherished you are. I’d never be able to articulate what you mean to me. And I replay in my mind that dance of total abandon. Dance on, dear one. I treasure each conversation and the shared love of language…
Vaya con Dios, mi Amigo!
Hey Mike, you admonished us in grad school that “you just gotta live right” and you have exemplified that mantra your entire life. Quite possibly the most important thing I learned in grad school! Thanks for showing us the way. Your spirit is infused in the hearts of all of us.
Mike,
I wanted to stop by and see your beautiful smile last week but I had to work during the times your house was open. And we also had to sign the papers to buy a house in South Eugene!! By mid August we will be living nearby. I was looking forward to being in the same neighborhood as you and Laurie. Darn…flowing with life’s changes.
I will miss your bright spirit and joyous surrender to what life brings and how you open your heart to all. If you have visitor times Monday or Tuesday This week I’ll come by.
Wednesday I fly out to visit Rosei in Minnesota for 11 days.
I think of you and Laurie every single day. Holding you both in my heart. With you in spirit.
I love you very much. Deborah
ps If I was writing on paper it would be damp with my tears