You fucker, you won. You went out on your own terms. How you did it, to me, was bullshit. With your son and grandson in the other room and your wife on the phone? What kind of shit is that? Seriously, that was fucked up. Regardless, the more I have learned since your passing, I understand. You were a proud man who was beaten down by his own body. I am reminded of Salma Hayak as Frida Kahlo saying ‘when I die, I want you to burn this judas of a body that has betrayed me’. I didn’t know for months after your passing that you were confined to a wheelchair. I understand what you did and why you did it. I don’t agree, but I understand.
On the occasion of Hunter’s funeral celebration this weekend in Aspen, Colorado I wanted to say a few words.
I am sad you are gone. I am also angry, but that is more for obviously selfish reasons. Mostly, though, I am sad. I miss your incoherent and paranoid ramblings. Towards the end, I began to dismiss every story you told as a complete fabrication. Then, after you died people would pop up in publications (most notably Rolling Stone) and tell their ‘the first time I met Hunter’ stories… and sure enough the shit you wrote was real. Though a talented writer, was there a worst house or hotel guest in history than you? Probably not... Oh well, fuck them. They are swine and we will march on the road of their bones to glory.
So, I wanted to say goodbye. I can't be at Owl Farm this weekend, they asked us not to come. Well, maybe next year. We aren’t invited to their elitist Hollywood party this year. Not sure if that is what you would have wanted. Anyhow, we will have our day to celebrate and grieve you. Bummer it can’t be this summer in Aspen, but I will respect your family. They better do something up there, otherwise they will just have 30 years of stalkers cruising around Woody Creek looking for closure.
Article comments
1 - Johno
Fantastic, Lono.
A few years ago I "growed up," which seemed to consist in large part of shedding most of my tendencies to mayhem. Most of those tendencies were shaped in the crucible of Hunter Thompson's writing back when I was young and impressionable and invulnerable.
If it weren't for HST I'd 'a never spent two years of college wearing a fishing cap and smoking Winstons through a filter-tip holder, staying up all night drinking mickey's bigmouths and cranking out stream-of-consciousness A papers for class. If it weren't for HST I'd 'a never gotten my first gig freelancing, much less never become a writer in the first place. If it weren't for HST I'd 'a never learned that the best writing I can do places me in the middle of my subject, embracing rather than avoiding my biases and my impact on events. If it weren't for HST I'd 'a never found myself in the middle of that lake at 3 AM, heavily embeered and hemmed in by fog, staring at the infinite blanket of stars among me, wondering if I would drift there in the boat forever or whether I'd make it back to land. Before Hunter I was a good kid with a mullet and an overactive conscience. After Hunter I was... different.
I don't do the crazy stuff any more with the beers and the stunts and the life-threatening hijinks, and it always made me a little worried that Hunter didn't knock it off as he got older. I guess the Reaper didn't come check in on him on occasion like he does for others. (Or maybe Hunter just told him to fuck off.)
His effect on people of a certain mindset was profound - life-changing or life-affirming even (Christ, Lono!) - and its a shitty shame he punched his own ticket like he did. I hope his afterlife is a great big load of nothing, because he could use the rest after the DIY heaven and hell he made of his life on Earth.
Thanks a million, Lono, for this heartfelt and moving tribute.
2 - Lono
For those who might be going to Woody Creek regardless, the funeral explosion and subsequent fireworks are set for exactly at sunset (which is around 8 pm down here in Denver). That is official news from the family.
other comments from the same article:
But Moseley noted that interest in the event is "off the charts" and people from around the country are driving into town.
The funeral includes private security. DiSalvo said his office had no "intel" that hordes of uninvited - whom he referred to as pilgrims - would descend on the Aspen area.
"What we're basically gearing up for is any traffic, or any pilgrims who might be going up to the event," he said.
Sheriff's deputies will post "no stopping" signs in the area and increase their presence from a standard three or four officers in the Woody Creek area to about a dozen at least on Saturday, DiSalvo added.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8995665/
3 - Lono
I will be posting constant updates to my website throughout the weekend. Also, I expect to have a photo somehow of that cannon by early next week. Check in over there (my site), as it is easier for me to update there than to constantly post here.
I already have 3 new articles up as of Thursday morning
http://www.iamcorrect.com/
4 - Self-Righteous Bonobo
We weren't given any reason to feel sorry for old broken crippled and diseased Hunter. There are no tears to be wasted, only celebration.