So, by now the news is out to everyone about the late Eric Bailey. I feel kind of grounded to this story, because I was present (not in the room, but present) when the announcement was made to the cast and crew of Inherit the Wind. I witnessed the some of the first crying, some of the first shock.

I didn't know Eric Bailey. I had heard tell of him, sure, but we had never actually gotten chance to cross paths. These are the times that I am reminded that you dont have to be friends with somebody to be affected by their death. I always feel kind of strange when a theatre community person dies. Always shocked at the fact that I will never work with them, or that they wont be tirelessly auditioning or directing come the next season. Just the insanity of death is always hard for me to get over, having not been absolutely surrounded by death in my later years. (I lost grandparents, sure, but before I was old enough to really take in what that meant.)

Its one thing to know someone who loses a friend, but we theatre people are an extended family ourselves. I dont have to work with someone or even know them to feel the loss of a dedicated fellow dramatist.

Am I making enough sense here? I feel like....This sounds really shallow, but I feel like I should be going around and telling everyone I love them. Hugging them close. Buying them Jones Soda (salmon flavored).

I guess I just want to say that I love you to all of you. I know I may have some random readers to my blog, but most of you are my closest, dearest friends. You guys make me who I am today (only the good parts, Ill take the blame for the bad.) I hope you all know how much you mean to me.