Sometimes it's all about the timing. Alan was actually going to be the next awardee. Had I known there was going to be a time schedule involved...
There's already a lot of tributes going on, but a lot of people have asked me to do this properly, to officially award him this badge, to give him the moment he deserves. I think that says a lot about him.
Alan joined Lush on Oct 19,2009. Listing his accomplishments doesn't seem to do him justice. i know there are a lot of people here who have a way with words much more poetic than i do, and i hope that they put down their thoughts as well. that said, i'll give it a shot. it's a bit disjointed, but... i'll do my best.
Alan was a poet at heart. Not that he couldn't and didn't write short stories and erotica, but his true love was poetry, and he put a lot of love and care into doing just that. i am sure that anyone who knew him, even just as a casual acquaintance, will tell you that he would go out of his way to encourage his fellow writers, pass on whatever advice he had, or just talk the craft. and it went beyond that. giving you a heads up that there was a competition or a publisher was taking submissions for something he thought you would be interested. he had a huge heart - if you loved to write, he wanted to help foster that love.
then, there was the Alan who went after plagiarists tirelessly. god help the thief who stole a story if he caught you at it. he'd go at them like the white knight from hell. he'd help you with that too. but he'd always keep his sense of humor. a lot of his jokes were the kind you groan over, but really, they made you smile all the more for it.
he loved to talk music, too. he played guitar, mostly the blues. loved photography. he was, really, a bit of a renaisance man - an all around artist.
all in all, so many people, here, and on the blue site, were touched by him, either by his words, or his presence. just so you know, his profile and written works will remain here as long as Lush exists. go read his poems, here, and at storiesspace: http://www.storiesspace.com/dirtymartini/stories
he'd like that. a lot. i like to think that, as long as his work exists, he will never be truly gone.
Is happiness something far out of reach?
Something for which we must strive.
Like some far off destination,
Where we hope someday to arrive.
Or is happiness just a commodity?
Something that can be bought,
Or is happiness something we all can learn?
Something that must be taught.
Is our happiness in short supply?
That may someday come to an end,
Or is there enough to go around?
That we can share it with a friend.
There are many things we’ll never know,
Like an envelope that’s always sealed,
And yet as we pass through life,
The answers are slowly revealed.
For we‘re all here for a reason,
As we pass from young to old,
And the longer that we live it,
The more answers will unfold.
And though we entered the world that way,
We were never meant to be alone,
And though we may often try,
We can’t do it all on our own.
For I believe happiness is our purpose,
And a purpose made to share,
To help make happy the ones we love,
And show them that we care.
And whatever our purpose in life may be,
And only time will truly tell,
My only hope is that I’ve served it,
And served my purpose well.
-Alan W. Janakowski.
