Steven A. Martin 1975-2010
Steve was a smallish, slim guy - like me, but tougher. He played rugby, and when he fixed you with his piercing blue look you saw an intensity there that spoke of a passion for life. The thing about Steve, though, was that he wore this life of his openly, on his shirtsleeve. He was always willing to be vulnerable about the joys and sorrows he was experiencing as he ran through life head-first.
Because he first was honest, I was able to be honest with him in return, and it wasn't too long before it occurred to me to invite Steve to come live with me at my parent's house until he could get his financial legs back under him. My folks were game, so Steve became a part of our family. He ate with us, slept in the spare room, and soon began to share his life as honestly with my parents and younger siblings as he had with me. At first I was embarrassed for him - I had not yet learned the value of a life spent being real - but in time I came to appreciate Steve for the beautiful man and person that he was. I rejoiced in his victories, mourned his failures, and just about beat him over the head with a two-by-four when he announced his plan at the dinner table to marry a girl for a green card so that as a Canadian he could go live and work in Hawaii. He thought better of that one, but it always seemed as though Steve was up to some grand and slightly crazy new plan.
Those plans took him off into the wild world and we lost touch, but Facebook allowed me to catch up with Steve over the past while. I was able to congratulate him on his beautiful son, and to enjoy from a distance his new adventures. I was able to laugh with him about things like this picture (which he recently joked that we should make into a calendar and market on this blog) - the sort of things that only Steve would do.
This morning before I headed off to work, Facebook also allowed me to learn of his death in a car wreck last week. I got on his page and read an explosive outpouring of love and remembrance from others who had known and loved Steve.
I love you like a brother, Steve.
Rest.
Thank you for being one of the people in Steven's life that truly knew him. And loved him for exactly who he was without judgment. There weren't many who could say that or made him feel that way.
ReplyDeleteLots of good memories of going to sleep with no one on my couch and waking up with Steven fully clothed and SOUND ASLEEP in my room...haha, fun memories! Glad he always felt comfortable crashing with the Barkey's!
ReplyDeleteJo-Ben Barkey
PS. that green card idea of his sure was a wild one:)..he's the one who Almost convinced me that i could play rugby at school (him and little matty estabrooks)...haha.
My memories of Steve are faint, almost forgotten, images. I remember when he first came into our life, and I remember him quickly becoming, just anouther person in our home. I remember mom asking what I thought about the idea of Steve loving with us for awhile. I remember not really thinking much of he matter iether way. And I remember having a thoroughly less apathetic responce, when it was made known that he wasn't gonna be around anymore. As I said these memories have all faded, and they only now, slowely creep back to me. I'm shamed to find myself wishing that they hadn't. That Steve was still a forgotten friend. Still forgotten to me, and still scheming his next adventure.
ReplyDelete