A Candle

Hubble Photo in the Public Domain

I have lost my beloved friend and mentor Buck Pennington.

He of the proper grammar and always knowing where the comma is supposed to go.

Buck never let me rest with the idea of what I had written, he was always on me to correct something. As he would often put it, "...ever the pedant..."

I cannot begin to tell you just how much I am going to miss that.

Buck followed my blog from day one, here's the first of his many comments:

Lex was my blog-father. I first contacted him back in 2004 simply to express my thanks thanks for what he was doing with his blog. One thing led to another and I started EIP in 2005 with his encouragement. The man was more than a blogger, more than a Nasal Radiator, he was bigger than life in more ways than one. We do miss him.

Which is a roundabout way of sayin' "Welcome to the club," Sarge. Keep on keepin' on!

Buck too, was larger than life.

If you have the inclination, head on over to his place, pay your respects and, if you have the time, read some of his other posts. It's well worth the trip and the effort.

Buck was fond of the phrase, "the Deity at hand," as a Buddhist he probably believed the following:

One fundamental belief of Buddhism is often referred to as reincarnation -- the concept that people are reborn after dying. In fact, most individuals go through many cycles of birth, living, death and rebirth. A practicing Buddhist differentiates between the concepts of rebirth and reincarnation. In reincarnation, the individual may recur repeatedly. In rebirth, a person does not necessarily return to Earth as the same entity ever again. He compares it to a leaf growing on a tree. When the withering leaf falls off, a new leaf will eventually replace it. It is similar to the old leaf, but it is not identical to the original leaf.

After many such cycles, if a person releases their attachment to desire and the self, they can attain Nirvana. This is a state of liberation and freedom from suffering. (S)

As a Christian, my beliefs differ somewhat. But having lived in many places and known many people different from me, I can only say with certainty that we cannot begin to understand our Universe and all that occurs therein. As The Bard said,

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,

Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

All I know for certain at this time, is that I have lost a dear friend and brother-in-arms. While I mourn his loss and my heart goes out to his family, I celebrate his life and I thank my God that I knew such a man.

I like to think that Buck has attained Nirvana, what we Christians call Heaven. I cannot believe for one instant that a man such as Buck would be turned away. He brought joy and wisdom to many.

To quote the Buddha,

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, 

and the life of the candle will not be shortened. 

Happiness never decreases by being shared.

Buck was a candle.

Vaya con Dios, mi amigo!

We shall meet again, in the hereafter.

Tell Lex we say hi.

I love you Buck. I miss you.