Jay Lake, prolific and fabulous author and netfriend of mine, passed away 5 days short of his fiftieth birthday yesterday, after a long battle with cancer that he fought up until the end. I am saddened by his passing, but more I am happy, grateful that I got to know him, not only as a fan of his tremendous work, but as a portrait artist he chose to make the portrait still seen on his now silent social media presences. I was humbled and honored by his kindness, compassion, grace and wit, as well as his unflinching honesty in facing what he feared as bravely as he could. He did not want to die. He died too young, and the world is less brighter today for it. 

But we are all made of star-stuff, as Carl Sagan said, and I believe the energy and magic that was once Jay Lake’s soul, his individuality, will burn on in my memory for the rest of my life. And for that beauty he gave me, i am grateful. I am also grateful for his many friends, family, and fans that rallied with him, consoled him, and now mourn him. What greater thing in life is there than to have the unabashed love of a great big family and friends? 

So. I won’t stray into my spiritual beliefs overmuch here, except to say that I believe as long as we remember him, his spirit and passion will never truly die, and I hope that when his energy makes its way back into the circle of life we will meet again, even only as photons sailing the universe in an instant.

Goodbye Star stuff. Burn brightly forever.