I
confess I still really miss John. He and I used to take coffee
virtually every morning we were in Colombo. I provided the coffee
[Colombian, of course]. He
provided the interesting conversation. I admit it was like having a
triple espresso: one shot of coffee and two shots of John. We’d talk
round and round, a million miles an hour, flitting from apples to
insurance to Godel - me bluffing and he patiently but
excitedly correcting me. I’d waste an hour afterwards searching the net
to find out what he’d been talking about and trying to source material
for my next bout. Good for my education. Bad for productivity.
John
really was bright. He’d fly our conversations around the world, dipping
into this topic or that. His conversations were always illuminating and
clear.
Never negative, even though I think he must have looked at what I was
doing sometimes and wonder how anyone could be so dim-witted. I now
realize that enthusiasm with excess responsibility came with a heavy
price. I thank him for paying it but I wish he hadn’t.
He
dined and danced with us, in our house in Colombo, the night before he
died. He actually had a great time, cooking pizza with (3 year old)
Laura [what a
perfect guest / lousy host combination] and dancing salsa with Ingrid
or whoever was nearby and stationary. The last I saw of him was when he
piled into an undersized car with others to return home. I remember his
idiosyncratic grin, extremely generous gratitude
and, (I’m sure), interesting comment that I vowed to check as soon as I
got back onto the internet. I remember him thus.
Goodbye, John and thanks for the uplift! It was way too short, but I still thank you for providing it!
Your friend,
Simon
--
Simon Cook
IWMI
Colombo, Sri Lanka
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