Friday, January 15, 2010

You have no clue....

Yesterday was emotionally draining....

To say the least.

Internet entrepreneur dies in Akron house fire

I had no clue what was happening when LDBoy first called me a lil after 2:00 AM to come to his house...

As I neared the place and saw all the Emergency vehicles, I still had no clue.

But I knew LDBoy was ok for the most part because he had called me a few minutes before to make sure I was on the way.

LDBoy would not say anything about why he wanted me there over the phone.

All the way there (for over an hour) I worried about what was happening.

I realize now that he was pretty much in a state of shock at what was going on around him.

As was another friend who was at the house with him throughout the ordeal.

I did not realize for quite a while the extent of the situation.

Yeah the house they loved was burning down.

But, the Police blocking the street told me they got everyone out of the house before they let me through, so I was not too worried about the boys' safety...

When I got to the house, LD just started telling me things to do....

He wanted me to put Buddy (the half pit bull, half boxer who is mourning on my couch as I write this) into my car so they new where he was.

And they needed to try to get the FD to let them in to get Boa out.

And they needed me to help get hold of Ryan's Mom.

That is when I realized that Ryan was not there.

They had taken him to the hospital....

The situation became crazier when they called the hospital and could get no info because they were not family.

Panic set in as we realized Ryan was not in good shape...

Getting hold of Ryan's Mom was an ordeal that should not have taken as long as it did.

None of us knew her first name or had a working number...thank you Ryan's Mom for having been there for him all through the years...

His sister was in Florida; his Dad in Utah....

The boys were telling the hospital to check Ryan's records from previous visits at another local hospital for contact info...we do not share records, they said....

WTF...

My calls to 411 were useless...

We do not have a listing for a Johnson on that street...

We cannot put you through, it is unlisted....

Get the local PD to put you through...
Yeah...good luck with that...

We had a last name and a street in a local city...how hard can it be...

The boys could point to her house on a map - get someone there....

Finally, through friends of friends of friends on Facebook...

But it was too late...

LDBoy had to break the news to Ryan's sister...

If you read the article and comments above you get a very skewed picture of Ryan.

Not that he was not "eccentric" or that he did not have any mental issues.

He did. We all know that.

But to all the negative commentors, I want to say.....

You have no fucking idea....

Yeah, Ryan made it big young. He did not handle the wealth the way you or I might have handled that much wealth at such a young age. But who knows...most of us did not have to worry about it, did we???

He may have not made his money doing things you or I would not have done, but quit casting stones...

You have no fucking idea....

You did not know Ryan....

Not like my son knew him....

Not like his other good friends knew him....

His good qualities out-weighed his eccentricities a hundred fold.

He could have given money to a charity??????

You have no fucking idea....

He was one of the most generous people I know.

He had a love for life most of us will never have....

And who cares what the house was worth....

It was where they lived....

That house in West Akron, as was the glass house in Bath, was welcoming to all who passed through their doors...

Because Ryan and his friends (my son included) made it that way....

They shared everything they had....

With their friends and families....

You have no fucking idea....

If smoke detectors would have helped....

You really have no clue....

So get off your podium....

Let us mourn the passing of a good person...

Let us mourn our friend's untimely death.

Ryan...I love you, man.

Thank you for your friendship and inspiration to my son.

I am so sorry that not everyone (myself included at times) was always willing to look past the eccentricities to see the the real Ryan.

I know you are with angels now and I hope to see you again someday...

My last fun memory of you Ryan, is New Year's Eve...shortly after midnight...

The tramplone is full of balloons to discourage partiers from using it....

I see you smiling as you walk toward it....across the top of the closets (hard to explain) and you just keep walking right off the walkway and into the trampoline....

You will be sooooo missed.



11 comments:

Anonymous said...

So sorry Dear Phip! So very sorry to read this sad, sad news.

{hugs}

Jayne Martin said...

I'm so very sorry for your loss.

ReformingGeek said...

What a great tribute. I'm so sorry this happened.

Anonymous said...

Hugs for you, Philly!
I have to ask, though, for those 'negative commenters--' What is wrong with eccentricities? Eccentricities are AWESOME, and eccentrics are awesome people.

I'm very sorry for your loss. We need more eccentric people.

Bobby Allan said...

Such a tragic loss. He sounds like he was a good friend to many. So sorry to hear this.

Peruby said...

Very, very tragic. My heart goes out to you, your son and friends during this loss of such a young life and good friend.

Phillipia said...

Thanks to all of you for your thoughts and prayers.

And yes. Scott, "Eccentricities are AWESOME, and eccentrics are awesome people."

Ryan was awesome...this is tragic on so many levels...my son has lost his best friend, his home, his office, his employer...he is devastated right now...he has so many friends and "family" in his network I am hoping for the best.

http://howtobecomeacatladywithoutthecats.blogspot.com said...

Oh, Phillipia! I'm so sorry to hear of this. How tragic. I know from your stories how much Ryan meant to you and LDBoy. Hugs to you both.

Love, Paula

Ed said...

Sorry for you and LDBoy's loss. Ryan seemed like a good dude.

gayle said...

This is so tragic...I am so sorry for your loss

Phillipia said...

Thanks to all of you. I really do appreciate your kind words and prayers.