Vince Brennan
03-23-2009, 09:25 PM
Understand that this is not a "sympathy" post. You didn't know these guys and I never met them "in the flesh" so the usual expressions are unnecessary.
On St. Patrick's Day, Charles "Bud" Brewer and Gary Sessions both left on their last cruises. Bud died of a sudden, massive heart attack at his home and Gary died after a long struggle with cancer.
These were two of the most respected and knowledgeable knotting experts in the US, and indeed, in the world. Bud, in particular, had nearly thirty tutorials posted on the KHWW site and Gary had for years been the "go-to-guy" for anyone wanting instruction in the more intricate points of knotting and fancy-work.
My point here is that they're both gone, and with them all that skill and knowledge. Sure, we have some of it left behind, but no-one will ever again get a small box in the mail with an un-looked-for gift of a magnificently-turned stainless spike or pricker from Bud, or an email from Gary which in three short sentences completely clarifies what you were trying to say with ten paragraphs.
Guys and Gals, if you have a store of expertise or insight into something esoteric or plebeian, DO write it down so that it's not lost to posterity. The depth and breadth of knowledge on this forum is staggering and needs to be preserved.
Sorry if this is a bit disjointed or you consider it jejune, but it's something that needs to be thought on, and sooner is better than later.
Bud was supposed to visit me in April and was starting to hint he might not be able to make it back East at that time. I told him that if he didn't, I'd never speak to him again.
Self-fulfilling (and deeply regretted) prophecy.:(
On St. Patrick's Day, Charles "Bud" Brewer and Gary Sessions both left on their last cruises. Bud died of a sudden, massive heart attack at his home and Gary died after a long struggle with cancer.
These were two of the most respected and knowledgeable knotting experts in the US, and indeed, in the world. Bud, in particular, had nearly thirty tutorials posted on the KHWW site and Gary had for years been the "go-to-guy" for anyone wanting instruction in the more intricate points of knotting and fancy-work.
My point here is that they're both gone, and with them all that skill and knowledge. Sure, we have some of it left behind, but no-one will ever again get a small box in the mail with an un-looked-for gift of a magnificently-turned stainless spike or pricker from Bud, or an email from Gary which in three short sentences completely clarifies what you were trying to say with ten paragraphs.
Guys and Gals, if you have a store of expertise or insight into something esoteric or plebeian, DO write it down so that it's not lost to posterity. The depth and breadth of knowledge on this forum is staggering and needs to be preserved.
Sorry if this is a bit disjointed or you consider it jejune, but it's something that needs to be thought on, and sooner is better than later.
Bud was supposed to visit me in April and was starting to hint he might not be able to make it back East at that time. I told him that if he didn't, I'd never speak to him again.
Self-fulfilling (and deeply regretted) prophecy.:(