Goodbye Sweet Friend, Raul

We do not always get the privilege of honoring those we love, in person, in a speech, or in writing, before they die. Lots of times we just have to let each other go in silence. I hate silence when emotions are deep and strong. Frankly, I hate silence, period. If you care about another person, however awkward it may seem, you should say so when they are still here to hear you.

I got the privilege of telling my dear friend Raul Ramirez how much I loved him numerous times this past month. He died today at 11:45 a.m.

The article I'd prepared beforehand for KQED just needed the date of his death to be publishable. That date turned out to be today. I was at lunch when the news came to me, and I didn't hear my cellphone ring at the time.

Ironically, or perhaps not so, I was using that lunch to try and inspire a young journalist to pursue her dreams, and offering to help her do so. Raul and I are very much alike in this way -- we both have always tried to help the young people who want to try to do this very difficult work to keep going.

Doing that brings on mixed feelings. There is nothing easy about being a journalist. Why should he or I ever push a younger person to enter this business, knowing how hard it will prove to be to prevail?

I don't know the answer to that question, and I suspect Raul did not know, either. Americans basically hate journalists, we all know that.

He's gone now so I can't ask him. But I suspect what I was doing at lunch is what he would have done, also. At least I hope so.

Goodbye my sweet friend.



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