08/21/06 at 2:47 AM Hello Everyone, It’s with great sorrow that I have to tell you all that Robin fought his last battle and passed from this life at 3 o’clock this morning. He passed peacefully in his sleep as we had hoped he would. MelisaRobin had a saying, a motto he lived by, “This For Now”. This is what’s happening right now, but things will change. So, for now, what we’ve got is what we’ve got. Complaining doesn’t do any good. Make the best of that hand you’ve been dealt while trying to get to a better place. It’s hard, though, to find a silver lining in Robin’s death. It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since that call; that his son Alex has gone 10 years without his Dad, Chris 10 years without his brother, and Melisa 10 years without the guy she was madly in love with. I’m pretty sure Chris would rather be going on a bike ride with Robin today instead of raising a pint of Guinness in his memory. I know I’d be a damn sight happier talking to him about the Travelwide 4×5 than looking through it, wondering what image he’d see if he was here. People sometimes ask what I’m looking for out there while cycling Route 66 on Brian’s Ride. There are many things, but one of them is to talk to ghosts. All that time alone riding gives me the space I need to remember these cancer stories, to mourn, to have little made up conversations that I wish I’d had with Robin while he was alive, try to remember what his voice sounded like on those rambling little calls we used to have. Maybe that’s a messed up thing to do. I don’t know. I just know that’s what I’ve got and I’m doing the best I can while trying to make something good come out of it all. But today, on August 21st, I’ll raise a pint of Guinness in Robin’s memory, send him a greeting, wherever he is, and thank him for keeping an eye on me. Tomorrow I’ll ride, take photos, and try to keep his memory alive. Rest in peace, my friend. Fuck Cancer. This For Now.
On September 24th, Erik Mathy will be cycling the entirely of Route 66, with a 4×5 camera, to fight cancer in honor of his cousin Brian Brendemihl who passed away in August of 2015. For more information on Brian’s Ride, please go to Erik’s website for more details, or, just visit Erik’s Generosity Page to help fight cancer yourself.
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