In Memorium

On June 16, 2024 I met with my friend Brooke to celebrate my birthday. We had met a couple months earlier and we became fast friends. Brooke was a shining light in the Reniverse. She genuinely cared about the suffering of others and was always quick to offer up an ear to listen. She began working to promote other independent artists in her spare time, before other groups dedicated to such endeavors had found their feet. And she was always smiling.

I was away from home when I met Brooke, spending six months in Tampa for work. When she found out I planned to spend my birthday alone, she quickly changed plans and made room for me to join her and her best friend, who happened to share the same birthday. Instead of just meeting up with me on a different day, Brooke insisted that I join her and her friend. We went to a reptile rescue facility, held some snakes, and then went to dinner, which she paid for.

Ten days later, Brooke passed away unexpectedly. That morning, I had been thinking about reaching out to her so we could hang out again. She had a flight booked to the Secret Garden Party festival and was so excited to see Ren perform. She was equally excited to meet more Renegades, and to just have fun. Unfortunately, she passed before the festival---though I'm told she was there in spirit.

Remember, everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about. We all have problems, and any one of us could be gone in a second. So please, please, do your best to be kind to others, even when they are unkind to you. Be a shining light, a rising tide, like Brooke was.

Freckled Angels fly the farthest, and their friends--they are the fondest. So I know you’re gonna be okay.