[Harp-L] Losing Chris

[Bobbie Giordano <bobbie-g@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I will forever miss Chris.

As some who know me, that's quite a revelation.  He and I had our, um, 
detours from civility and rationality.  You know, where both are right in 
their own minds and irritated with what's right in the 
other's.  Eventually, the experience, learning and growth are all that 
really matter anyway.

I just wish I could share that with him now, again, because oddly, even 
though time eventually heals many things, I can look back now and glimpse 
how he envisioned the developing harmonica world.  He was often harsh, 
but right on target.  Patience frustrated Chris enormously.  He always 
seemed to want progress to find the shortcut, and if it needed anyone to 
lead the way, he'd grab the wheel in a heartbeat.

A phone message was left on my birthday, which I didn't pick it up until 
a day later.  Hearing it, I must admit, I delayed reading Harp-L because 
I couldn't bear to read all the sad outpourings that must surely have 
been showering the list over the tragic news.  So, SO many harmonica 
players were bound to be devastated by this horrible loss!  A monumental 
influence on the harmonica community was suddenly taken from us, totally 
without warning.

Chris was one of those players whose playing inspired you to dig deeper 
or reach higher.  No middle ground ... either try or quit.  Either choice 
didn't bother him one iota.  On the other hand, he did hate 
mediocrity.  So, try, if you will, but you better get better, or just get 
out of the way.  The one thing you could always tell about Chris was that 
he was in a hurry to see HARMONICA ART excel.

So, he did.

Of all the personal losses I've known in recent years, aside from Doug, 
of course ...  Ramsey, Primich, Buffalo ... this one has been uniquely 
upsetting.  Chris had so much left to give, because we never knew where 
he would take us next.

Miss you forever, Chris.

Bobbie