A few days ago my friend Andy Burnett of Covina, California passed away due to a sudden heart attack. I didnt find out about it right away when it happened due to the fact that I was at work when I heard the news. A mutual friend of ours gave me a call and when he first said the words to me "Andy Burnett is dead" I said to him "You gotta be kidding me, right !?!" but he wasn't. Shocked. That is exactly how I felt when I heard the news. Whenever anyone hears such horrible news, the intial shock begins to wear off in a day or two but this time around that didnt happen with me. It wasn't until late last night when I got home from work that it really really hit me. I told everyone that I had gotten home from work much later than usual but in reality that wasn't the case at all. For the first time ever, when I got home and walked in the door and set down my briefcase and backpack on the floor and walked over to my computer, I sat down in front of it and just stared at it. I thought to myself "Jesus Christ, what's the fucken point? To see and read more bad news?" So I sat there and began to cry and at one point while I was crying I then started laughing and thought to myself what Andy woulda said to me if he were still alive. In his own unique language, something that all of his friends including myself truly loved about him, I firmly believe he woulda said something to the effect of "Joo know Baybee, you's gots to stop cryin' and get joor 'ass offa da ground and start livin' agin!!!" I'll tell you, no one could make me laugh nor lift my spirits more quickly and more effectively than Andy Burnett did.
This is my tribute to him and his life. I didnt know him as long as the other people in our mutual circle of friends knew him, but I feel I knew him well enough to know whatta wonderful human being he was. For those of you who are my regular readers and for those of you who aren't, you're more welcomed to bypass this particular blog entry because this isn't gonna be what I think about this-or-that, or about that issue over there or this cause over here, or even about any of my life experiences but one - knowing Andy Burnett and what he meant to me and what he will always mean to me.
As a rational mature adult, I know that Death is nothing more butta part of life, a mere extension of it only in a different form. And as much death as I have encountered in my life, and as many funerals I have attended and resting places I have visited, I still hate it. After all these years, I still hate Death and there isn't one single cell in my body and soul that wouldn't just love to confront the Angel of Death himself by grabbing him by the throat and saying "You've had enough now, get the fuck outta here!!!" and bodyslamming him so hard to the concrete that every single inch of his existence disinegrates into mere dust that blows away in the wind. Personally, I think the worst thing about Death is that it seperates us from our friends, our families, all those people whom we consider our loved ones. In fact, if it weren't for that one single aspect of it, I think we'd all be at peace with the process of it all.
I could go on and on about whatta wonderful person Andy Burnett was because quite frankly, he was just that - wonderful. And so many other things. Funny, witty, intelligent, extremely passionate about his music, especially the Motown era of music, with specific regards to his beloved Mary Wilson and the Supremes; and most of all, compassionate towards and respectful of others. Andy always shined brightly regardless of what he said or did online but when it came to his ability to love and accept others unconditionally, no one I know could outshine him in that arena. I mean it.
When people are talking with each other and getting to know each other, naturally all kinds of questions are asked from each direction; but, with Andy, it was different. You could tell him what was going on in your life, where you have been, where you are at now and where you plan to go in the future and he never ever once would judge you. He would listen, he would discuss things with you and then he would say the most morally supportive and intuitive words that you ever heard come outta human beings' mouth. It was never "Joo should do dis" or "Joo should do dat" all that he ever said was that a person has to do what is right for themself and as long as what they were doing did not hurt themselves or others, then they were indeed on the right track. Whether joking around with him or talking about something personal, Andy always always made me feel better, made me feel more self-confident, and inna nutshell, simply made everything feel better. I think that kinda thing goes beyond being an extension of your inner self, I think Andy hadda real gift for reaching out to others and making a difference in their lives by simply being himself.
I never had the opportunity to know Andy in person, only via our interactions with each other on the internet, but I would also like to say this about him - if in real life he was even a quarter of the man he was on the internet, wow, whatta damn spectacular individual he musta been in person. I haven't been to California since I left it in 1991 when I finished up my schooling but I do plan on going back there next summer for a visit and one of the several people on my list of folks to meet once I get out there was Andy Burnett; and no, I'm not saying that because he died this week, his name has always been on that list. I've always thought to myself "Oh my gawd, I have gotta meet this guy!! Whatta hoot to be able to talk and laugh with him in person!" Naturally because of fate, I will not have that opportunity but I will do my utmost to pay my respects to him anyways because he may no longer be alive on our side of life, but you can bet your sweet ass the essence of Andy Burnett is still out there, not just in the memories and hearts of those of us who cared so deeply about him, but in spirit too.
They say when we die and cross over that we meet people along the way during our journey. I do hope that when it's my time to take that journey that Andy Burnett is one of the people I will meet along the way because if he's anywhat in Heaven like he was here on Earth, hell, that alone would make me feel more at ease about dying. Yeah, maybe that's how I should end this tribute to him. Earth lost one of it's kindest souls when Andy Burnett died, but Heaven become one helluva more rockin-n-rollin place because Andy is there now. As I close this tribute, if there is anything else I could say about Andy, or even to him directly, it would be this - Andy, you're not ever ever gonna be forgotten. Yes, everyone you knew, myself included, will go on with their lives but please know we will do so remembering whatta positive impact and profound difference you made in all of our lives. Sending alotta love and blessings your way My Friend. My most heartfelt and sincerest sympathies go out to the family of Andy Burnett. Thank you for reading.
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