Meditation on a Friend's Suicide
Elroy Bode | April 17, 2009 | Commentary
Elroy Bode remembers Texas writer Richard Phelan.
I am also diminished by Phelan's death. More, there is a vacancy in McGregor, a hole in the sky, a strange stillness that I notice on my infrequent visits. His place in Texas thought and literature was not well recognized (certainly not enough to suit him) before he made that decision in March. Thanks, Mr. Bode, for your thoughts and the remembrance. He introduced me to your work, to the work of early Texas geologists, to some of the depths and richness of Central Texas biosystems and their literature. When I visited with him the last time (some years ago, now), we hiked in one of those Bosque bottoms and among some flint-rich limestone ledges. He wasn't happy with the pain and his inability to climb the slopes. He was a proud and brilliant man, and vital. My hope: his papers and writings don't go uncollected and uncurated.
Posted by David Kelley on May 06, 2009
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