Palmer

[judecorp]

Sometimes you become acquainted with someone and you just know, somehow, that there is something so very special about that person, something that's going to stick with you. Even after a minute or ten, even after several years.

I met Mark Palmer at Vic's in Columbus, in the couch corner near the window where I was going to enjoy some gossip with Lara. They were friends; I clung to their pleasant conversation of serious topics and realized immediately that this man was Enlightened, in some way, on some level, in my presence.

We had a few more run-ins in the next year or so, all revolving around Lara, wherein I met his beautiful wife, Jennifer, and their darling infant son, Micah, who once gave me a hickey in the crook of my elbow. Through chit-chat at Lara's when the four of us (Lara, me, Mark and Jennifer) helped pack up a friend and place her into a large truck for a new adventure across the universe, I learned about his ministry, his worship community, and more importantly, his passion. He was quite imposing then, much taller than me and so sturdy on his faith.

The summer that Jen and I moved in together, still in Columbus, Mark lost his vibrant, beautiful, and gorgeous wife to an aggressive form of cancer. She was 26, and I was so shattered by the realism of death and its triumph over beauty that I could not get myself up for the funeral. I felt awful about my absence but I just couldn't do it. It was almost as if going to the services would be my admission that this could happen to me, or to My Jennifer. And to leave behind such a beautiful little baby...

Two years later, Mark Palmer was remarried to another lovely soul that I never got the privilege to meet and he had just been diagnosed with cancer himself. What are the cruel odds of such a thing, a man who is my age who lost his wife to cancer two years prior? I've been following his battle, physical and spiritual, through this time, feeling helpless and disconnected. Heck, we were nothing more than brief acquaintances!

This morning, Mark Palmer ended his battle so that he could be with his savior. I honestly believe the world lost something beautiful this morning, something that simply cannot be replaced. My heart aches for a man I hardly knew, the woman he's joining in heaven, a woman I've never met, and a 4-year-old boy who sucked on my arm in Patti's backyard before he could ever possibly remember such things.

Peace and praises be to palmerlp and all the people and things he touched and turned to gold.

Comments

[fatfeistyfemme.livejournal.com]

heavy sigh - big hug

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

It's just such a loss, you know? To everyone.

[indigodove.livejournal.com]

I am so sorry to hear that. *hugs*

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Thank you. *hugs*

[drainbead.livejournal.com]

Oh, no. I've been following his journal, although I never friended him--I just knew of him based on posts from others in Columbus, so I would check in from time to time. It's been a few months since I went there. :-(

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Yeah - it seemed pretty sudden but I think there was quite a bit that wasn't written, you know? I guess he went back into the hospital for a bit but was home. I'm not sure what happened. It's just so sad. :(

[thatpatti.livejournal.com]

evidently, they sent him home after he became pretty difficult in the hospital and was refusing to eat, refusing treatment, etc. they told him he was wasting his money being there. this was late last week.

but honestly? i'm glad he went home. i think he knew it was time, and that staying in the hospital was delaying the inevitable (though i know he never would have shared those thoughts with those around him to clung to hope until the very end). he got to go to micah's birthday party and spend his last days at home.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I kind of had a feeling it went down something like that, with him wanting to be at Micah's birthday party and just plain be home. I'm sure Amy wanted him home as well.

It's just so scary, you know? If it could happen to both of them, it could happen to ANY of us. And that sort of thought just breaks me to pieces.

[stapynam.livejournal.com]

what a well written tribute. mark and his family will be in my prayers.

none of us are immune; i suppose it's cliche, but it reminds me to enjoy life while i have it.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it reminds me to hold onto My Jennifer as much as I can. Ugh.

[estrange.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry. What did he die of?

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

cancer

[kat-chan.livejournal.com]

That's so sad. I remember I'd just met you around the time that Mark's Jennifer passed away. I felt badly for someone young, losing his wife to cancer at such a young age. After all, cancer is something that "old folks" get.

When I read your post talking about Mark being diagnosed with cancer, that just seemed to be too cruel of a twist of fate. And my heart goes out to Micah. When his mother passed he was still a bit too young to remember her, but this will be a death that will hit him harder. He'll remember his dad. The questions about why daddy won't be coming home again will last longer. And I can only hope that he won't become bitter as a result.

This family has been so touched by tragedy that I can only hope that peace will find them soon.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

All I can make sense of is that perhaps the Universe is sending some sort of HUGE lesson to all of us, and used them as messengers. I have learned so much about precious time and love just by knowing their stories, you know?

[kat-chan.livejournal.com]

Yeah. It's just a really sad story. I feel badly for Micah. He will have hardly known his parents, and that's just got to be rough. I can't help but keep thinking of him.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Me either. :(

[wendywoowho.livejournal.com]

Oh, God.

:( :( :(

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I know. :( :(

[whuffle.livejournal.com]

Oh, Jude! I'm sorry. I took a brief look at Mark's journal. He sounds like he was an amazing teacher and fighter. I feel so much sorrow for his widow and son. It sounds like everyone who knew him lost something special...

*hug*

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I think he was a totally incredible person. He touched so many people, I can't even fathom it. We (he and I) don't have the same religious beliefs and/or philosophies but I was certainly touched by everything he stood for and the man that he was.

He was amazing.