July 25, 2006

  • Remembering Terry
     


    Terence David Cuthbert
    aka
    LordPineapple

     

    September 8, 1947
    July 31, 2005

     

    One of Terry’s very last writings included,
     
    “In the UK and America you can only become a famous poet by spending thousands entering competitions and knowing who the judges are. I do not enter competitions, I do not pay others to read my work nor fuel the cocaine habits of the judges that get most of the entrance fees.

    That is why I will never become a famous poet, for unlike the Jorie Grahams of this world I am no crook or fraud who screws far better poets than herself. If the system screws then I’ll rather die forgotten.

    And probably will.”
     
    I wonder often if Terry has discovered how unforgotten he is.  His blogs are still read and little reminders of how much he is missed continue to appear as comments in all of them.  His blogs continue to gain as a spot to return to as his readership still increases.  How often do we impact strangers in such a way we become friends to never be forgotten?  Terry certainly made a dent in my heart and having read many a comment left for him, he made that same dent in the hearts of many others. 
     
    I received a pass-along (what I call emails that travel the net round and round) just the other day and it has hit home to me that there are some equations that could be made per Terry and what was written. 
     
    ***
    The email:
     
    The day arrives. Forrest Gump dies and goes to Heaven.  He is at the Pearly Gates, met by St. Peter, himself.  The gates, however, are closed, and Forrest approaches the gatekeeper. 
     
    St. Peter, “Well, Forrest, it is good to see you.  We have heard a lot about you. I must tell you though, Heaven is filling up, and we have been administering an entrance exam for everyone. The test is short, but you have to pass it to enter.”
     
    Forrest, “It sure is good to be here, St. Peter, sir. But nobody ever told me about any entrance exam. I sure hope the test ain’t hard. Life was a big enough test.” 
     
    St. Peter, “Yes, I know, Forrest, but the test is only three questions.
     
    First: What two days of the week begin with the letter T? Second: How many seconds are there in a year? Third: What is God’s first name?”
     
    Forrest leaves to think the questions over, returning the next day.
     
    St. Peter, “Now, you have had a chance to think the questions over, tell me your answers.”
     
    Forrest, “Well, the first one, which two days in the week begins with the letter “T”?, that one is easy. That would be Today and Tomorrow.”
     
    St Peter’s eyes opened wide, “Forrest, that is not what I was thinking, but you have a point, and I didn’t specify, so you get your credit. How about the next one?”
     
    “How many seconds in a year? Now that one is harder,” replied  Forrest, but I thought  about that, and the answer is twelve.”
     
    Astounded, St. Peter, “Twelve? Twelve? Forrest, how in  Heaven’s name could you come up with twelve seconds in a year?”
     
    Forrest, “sir, there’s got to be twelve:  January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd…. ”
     
    St. Peter, “Hold it,.  “I see where you are going with this, and point taken.  That was not quite what I had in mind … but I’ll credit you for that one, too. Now, the third and final question.
     
    Can you tell me God’s first name”?
     
    Forrest, “Sure, “it’s Andy.”
     
    St Peter frustrated and exasperated, “Andy?  Ok, I can understand how you came up with your answers to my first two questions, but just how in the world did you come up with the name Andy as the first name of God?”

    Forest, “Why heck, that was the easiest one of all, I learnt it from the song, “ANDY WALKS WITH ME, ANDY TALKS WITH ME, ANDY TELLS ME I AM HIS OWN . . . ”
     
    St. Peter opened the Pearly Gates saying: “Run Forrest, run.”
    ***
    My point, In many ways, Terry, rough and difficult as he could be, was an innocent, as innocent as Forest Gump.  I believe upon passing his test he was given the same orders, “Run Terry run”.  I think he did exactly that and is probably running now, the same great race he ran in this life. 
     
    He continues remembered, as a very special man. 
     
    Becca