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In Memory of Mike Randall
If I were to liken my life to a night sky, where
the vast majority of my days have faded to a black backdrop of insignificance - not worthy of a place in my memory
- then times spent with Mike would be bright stars in that sky. Denise and I, as everyone here, had our lives enlightened
by his.
Mike could be wild and uncontrolled - he had so much spirit and energy bursting out of him - but he also could
be quiet, contemplative, and highly considerate of others. And sometimes, he showed yet another side: one of sadness
and the fatigue of bearing a weight. I think that weight was an empathy for us. It was his sense of responsibility,
of caring, and of wanting to help change things for the better for all those he cared about. He was always quick
to offer advice and counsel, but did so without passing judgment. He simply cared in the truest and purest way.
But back to his light - to the stars. Just as the bright stars in the sky have names, so do his stars in my life
have names, and together they help define the form of the constellation of Mike Randall.
Detroit
The Sweetwater and The Lone Star
Cafe - where we heard some kick-ass music
Star's Deli - for corned beef at midnight
The Marin Headlands - where I mostly watched his back tire
Puerto Rico - cigars on the beach
The Pelican Inn - cigars on the lawn
and of course, the home he and Margaret made in
San Anselmo. These memories, these places will always shine with Mike's light. And when I squint my eyes to connect
these bright points, to see their form, I see a face with a generous smile, a bushy mustache, and a twinkle in
his eyes.
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