Ray’s death seems to have revealed a strange thing to us all about the internet. A lot of people have learned how strange it is that we should become so ‘close’ to someone that we haven’t even met – obviously some on here did meet Ray, but I’m talking about the rest of us.
It is strange, we all (on this thread anyway) seem to think of each other as ol’ mates; we’re all very respectful to each other, share private jokes amongst each other and even leave things unsaid when we know they will be understood - but generally we haven’t got a clue what we look like.
Oldscrote, for instance, could be someone that I would cross the road to avoid if I saw him at a distance – obviously I’d have to cross the road in Fat Scouser’s case, but I digress. SmithdownAndy could be black, Chinese, or even an Eskimo; it simply doesn’t matter, and what a great thing that is. Jagged Princess could be Hattie Jacques or Noemi Campbell or even Fatima Whitbread – now there’s a thought.
Mind you it must be terrible if you do have severe prejudices. How do you know who to agree with and who to like?
Anyway it got me thinking about what it is about certain people that make them important to us and I must have come over all sentimental like, ‘cos in a quiet moment I penned this sonnet for our ol’ mate Ray – I can be quite pretentious when I put me mind to it.
Laugh at death, for it curtails not the wise.
Whose thoughts become ideas, that once are said,
Do like caged birds which when released arise
And to the corners of the world are spread.
Aye, foolish words no headstones do adorn.
Too numerous are they to carve in stone.
They scarce outlive the breath on which they’re borne.
But wise words have the strength to stand alone.
What do we truly measure in a man.
Fine clothes and silver pieces don’t contend!
To match his words and deeds but when he can!
To stand beside his friends until the end.
Friend, mourn not, though he premature departs,
His wisdom marches on within our hearts.
RIP Ray,
Dr. B
