JHVW3- Happy Birthday, Catfood! Never Forget! November 2, 1957, James Henry Van Wagenen 3rd, aka Catfood to those in the neighborhood and his dear friends, was born to Peggy and JHVW2, of Chicago, Ill. (and employee at Swift Premium Meats), younger brother to Mark, older brother to Karen Jones (Van Wagenen). Shunning the term deaf James preferred and insisted on being referred to as hard of hearing instead, but could never quite escape his otherness, his outcast position in our society, and after years of failed integration and maladaptation he died a lonely, suffering death, after living marginally in a broken down truck and after having long ago turned off and discarded his hearing aid. I will always bare considerable guilt for his fatal and tragic demise, and so should we all, I reckon, since we are our brothers keeper; I didnt keep him well, while I thrived. I tried and, unsuccessfully with a friend once, finally did track my dear friend down a few years ago, reuniting in a bitter sweet final get together, on the outskirts of Charlotte, across the train tracks, only to fail to respond quickly enough a few months later when James tried, through a friend on the phone, one last time to reach me. Not long after that call to my fathers house he was gone, brutally hemorrhaging from unknown ailments long unattended to. Worst was that he died alone, and he received no funeral. This is a crime. I stand to either make good on this crime, the not unique unfortunate hand James was handed best I can or die ranting about it ad infinitum. I may make the great film about him. Long Live James. May his life be remembered, and may we reach out sooner, with more love and compassion to the countless other James Henry Van Wagenens out there, ignored and diseased and withering. Nobody felt deeper enthusiasm, initially, and love for his fellow friends than James. Nobody was a more reliable friend nor more sensitive artistically than James. His beautifully stylish handwriting, which I look at occasionally in the letters sitting in my top drawer, expressed his swagger, his vitality and creativity. Nobody was more excited, initially, to be a young and searching American kid than James. His sense of humor, laughing and cackling with us about everything including his odd nickname, was unmatched and his passing, and how it was handled, was equally pathetic. Thanks for keeping our friend James Henry Van Wagenen 3rd in your hearts and maintaining his lively affection for life and friendship. Karen and I remain close friends. JHVW3 lessons continue to reveal themselves. Thanks for (g)listening, Randt
Posted on: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 19:42:48 +0000
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