Gary Clark! You’ve been Thorned!

For those of you new to our site, a Thorning occurs when His Moiness-in-Chief takes it upon himself to publish an email sent as confidential and broadcast it to the world.  Tis our highest literary honor…I only have broadcast emails that inadvertently–certainly not by intention–reveal the virtues of the sender.

Gary’s virtues were numerous.  He was generous of spirit, kind -hearted, and funny as hell, and believed and lived social justice.   Just ask anyone in Skeeter’s Bar. (I will be posting some of Gary’s stories during the week, and will resume posting our contest entries on Monday. I realize that newbies to our site who never bonded to our favorite cowboy may be slightly annoyed at yet one more delay in concluding our contest, but life–and death–happens.)

I asked Gary about two weeks ago if he would like to write his own eulogy, but by then he was too weak to respond.  So I will leave it up you you do do so in the comment section.

Here is a sequence of letters we exchanged. (to the uninitiated, Bob was his prize bull)

Gary Clark!  You been MOURNED!—oops!– I mean THORNED!

***

From: Gary Clark
Date: May 2
To: me

I’m glad you’ve found your place up there and away from California. Peace and Harmony is what I hear in your e-mails now instead of the frantic California rush and hurry – screaming-assed day to day survival mode from years before. I’m looking forward to Raw Man and will buy a copy for myself and my brother who is a veteran of Vietnam. Thank you for helping Fred get the story out.

Got some bad news at the doctor’s office yesterday. The chemotherapy I had been taking to stop further spread of the cancer didn’t work and now I have it in my liver and pancreas – a note from God telling me to “Get my shit together” because I’m a short-timer here on earth. Getting ready to start some new high-powered stuff that’s guaranteed to kill y’a or cure y’a. I’ve always been one for a crap shoot so I’m rolling the dice for a miracle.

Talked to my attorney this morning and updating my will. I’m leaving you Bob.

Please, do not share this with our friends and fellow writers. It’s not time to go public so I’m just telling those who are the most important To: meand trusting them to keep it under their hats.

The contest we did for Peggy after she died was great. Lots of love shared. Here’s the prompt for my contest when I go. “Gary Clark? That son of a bitch!”

Anyway – that’s probably a year and a half to two years from now by doctor’s best guess, but put it on your calendar.

Thanks for all you’ve done for me. And I’ve enjoyed the hell out of everything I’ve done to you.

From: me
Date: May 2
To: Gary Clark

What? You mean I can’t thorn you with this?

shit…

on so many levels

love

thorn

From: Gary Clark
Date: May 2
To: me

Thorn away after I’m gone – use it for the promo for the contest.

From: me
Date: May 2
To: Gary Clark

only if you’ll judge

From: Gary Clark
Date: May 2
To: me

I will let you know.

Sent from my iPhone