I lost touch my dear and precious friend, Geo, when our years of texts were accidentally erased from my phone. I’ve been trying to find him again these past five years. Every few months I’d just plug his name into my search engine, but no luck. I knew he was in Portland, but just couldn’t locate him. Then tonight I tried once more and the first thing that appeared was his obituary. It knocked the wind out of me. All I could say was “Oh no, not my dear Geo.” I’ve been crying ever since. Never did I have a dearer, kinder, more attentive or loving friend than this sweet loving man. We worked together in Atlanta for years, and never did he forget my Birthday, Mother’s Day, Christmas .. . With cards, flowers, chocolate and heartfelt and beautiful handwritten prose. I saved every card. He would often greet me at the front door with a wonderful bear hug, literally lifting me off my feet, when I arrived at work. We talked about everything under the sun. We were both lovers of poetry and literature and especially of life and the beauty of the natural world around us, and the precious gift of deep and abiding friendship. Never in my lifetime have I known anyone like Geo. Literally every single person he met and got to know even briefly knew they had been in the presence of someone very special. And for those who he counted as friends, we have all been left so much richer for having known him. I am still in shock. If any of Geo’s family members or friends read this, please know that this precious friend meant the world to me and I will never forget him. We were almost exactly 10 years apart in age, with me being the elder. He treated me with great respect and admiration and when we talked, which we did almost daily for years, I had his undivided attention. He had a way of making people feel heard, understood and valued. I am heartbroken.
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