It’s a bit rainy this morning, certainly reflecting my melancholy mood. This week, two people, seemingly from a past life, passed away. It pains me that I say “past life.” But that’s how things seem to go when life, time, and geography divide us.
The first was my uncle, my dad’s sister’s husband. I’ve never been particularly close with that side of the family, as we were always geographically distant. After my father died in 2003, I became even more disconnected. It’s a shame because he was among the nicest people I’ve ever met. I’ll always remember him as jovial, always smiling, and genuinely interested in listening and asking questions. I can’t recall him ever saying anything negative or pessimistic.
The second loss was a friend, Lee Hansche, from New Hampshire, with whom I spent many days climbing and route-setting back in the early 2000s. He lost his life in a setting-related accident at the gym in Manchester, NH, earlier this week. He was another incredible human being who contributed so much to the climbing community in New Hampshire over the last few decades and will be sorely missed within that world.
My heart goes out to all the family and friends of both. The world lost two great ones this week.
