one year

last year on May 31st we lost our close friend and neighbor, eric dutt.

eric was one of the first people i met in nyc, though a mutual friend--virgil. we were all addicted to the xfiles and would host xfiles parties every week at alternating apartments. i got to know him and kat through their cooking and hosting, and this grew into me later moving in upstairs from them with my then boyfriend (now husband). we still live upstairs from kat and their son, luca.

it's hard to believe we have all lived an entire year without his silly pranks, his creative snacks, his infectious laugh, his rabid gardening, his warm and solid hugs, his bug collecting, and his light smile. i think of him everyday. i know a lot of his other friends do, too.

but when i'm not sad over losing such a wonderful person, i am encouraged to live my life like eric did. i can't think of a single bad thing to say about him, and i don't know a soul who had beef with him when he died. he lived and loved with such joy and effortlessness that even though he was only here for 34 years he left a legacy of family, friends, and students who are quite simply better people because of their relationship with eric. that is definitely something to aspire towards as we all wake, live, and repeat.

we miss you, eric. big time. i know of you're out there you are still reading blogs and on flickr! xxoo.