Today I found out that my friend Russ passed away. I take this opportunity to honor him and the gift he left us.
I met Russ through my dear friend Shirley who married him some years ago. When I was going to meet him for the first time I felt very protective of Shirley because I wanted her to be treated with the love and respect that I felt she deserved. So I was ready to hammer this guy if he wasn’t up to the job.
To my pleasant surprise Russ was what we ladies would call, “a gem”. He was genuine with a great sense of humor and an incredible smile. As strong and as tenacious as he could be was only balanced by his sweetness and kindness to others. What I loved about Russ was his straightforward attitude that seemed to come less from the California coast and more from the NY east coast mentality of “telling it like it is”. I resonated with him in that way and often felt we intuitively connected on detecting that type of behavior.
His personality, in that regard, is what embellished his way of life. Russ thoroughly created his life. He jumped in head and heart first diving into the waters of his passion equally excited to bring them to the surface for us all to witness and share with him.
He did not hesitate.
He was a practical dreamer who didn’t wait for the genie to appear but crafted his dreams from the opportunities life presented to him.
Russ was a wealthy man in the game of life. Russ died as a result of a mysterious motorcycle accident of which the outcome in my mind is still to be determined. I say that because Russ in his adventurous spirit was never careless and always a responsible person in everything. Just like his personality he was determined yet aware and I don’t believe that he would ever take unnecessary risks. To that end I am deeply saddened.
However, the risks that Russ did take, that we can all learn from, were to follow your passion and live life to its fullest at all times. This is a message we all need to hear and have drummed into our heads on a daily basis. Anyone who knows Russ understands that he left this planet with no regrets; he loved his family, friends, work, nature, hobbies, and himself; something we can all aspire to in our own lives.
For his 50th birthday in October his wife, Shirley, treated Russ by giving him the gift to swim with the dolphins and experience being a dolphin trainer for day. He found delight in challenging himself to new adventures and these brilliant, mystical creatures added a new dimension to his every day existence. I can’t help but think that Russ is riding a dolphin at top speeds somewhere in the great unknown smiling like a Cheshire cat spreading his joy for eternity.
That’s how I’d like to imagine it anyway.
Let us learn from Russ to create a passionate and abundant life in all ways.
Thanks for the lesson Russ…
We’ll miss you.
Russ Downie
1958 - 2008
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