RIP Wing Lam

[Drunk Monk]

Gary knows more. I’m struggling to stay focused on set. Must turn off phone now again.

[Greg]

I saw the Post from Lady Cranefly. You are still on the downslope of the roller coaster.

My condolences.

[cranefly]

I'd been meaning to announce this here all day, but just kept putting it off.  Just didn't want to put it in writing.

Lady Cranefly and I were at the hospital last night with about 15 others.  The word had gone out that the time was near.  We stayed until 1 in the morning.  He died sometime during the night.

I still carry my original Wing Lam Kung Fu School membership card in my billfold.  It's dated 3/18/1982.  That's when I started, 36 years ago.

He's been teaching some of us senior students on Sunday mornings for years.  He last showed up for class two Sundays ago.  Barely able to walk, in obvious pain.  But this was his life, this was what he did, watching over us, correcting us in so many ways, forever generous in sharing his multifaceted knowledge.

Hard to believe he's gone.

[Drunk Monk]

I can hardly look at facebook now. So many photos of Sifu from so many old friends and acquaintances.  

I hope you and Lori are coping, Gary.  I can only stop to mourn for moments.  Perhaps it's better that way, at least for me.  Better or not, that's how the cards have fallen.

[King Bob]

Best wishes to all of you.

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

I am very sorry for your loss. I remember him as a very patient, focused teacher.

[cranefly]

DM, I don't know how you wrote that Wing Lam memorial piece for the ezine in your current circumstance.  A beautiful piece.

Just so you know, the second ex, of whom you had some very choice words, has insinuated herself into the arrangements picture.  She does seem genuinely shaken by his death, but there is clear evidence of maneuvering on her part for financial gain.  This is really not the place to go into detail on this.  But just so you know, we've cautioned the daughter and her boyfriend not to be influenced by her regarding the future of the warehouse business, and to protect Sifu's legacy and valuable possessions from her pillaging ways.  This was done in as tactful a way as possible, and I think was well-received.

[Drunk Monk]

I was wondering if she might come into play. I’ve also been wondering what it might be like if we cross paths at a memorial.

Thanks for your kind words on my remembrance. I’m unsure how I sound right now. I’m saying a lot of stuff under pressure.

[Greg]

You sound great. Don't worry what others think at this point. Only worry about you.

We can always kick you later.

[Drunk Monk]

You sound great. 

It's my whiskey-soaked Stevie-inspired dulcet tones, right?  Just imagine how I'll sound after some Dylan whiskey.  Tom Waits better STF back.

[Drunk Monk]

Today was the viewing and Daoist ceremony. The cfs saw it through. They are both disciples. I am not. 

I must miss the burial tomorrow because I must lead the tcec judges meeting. I’ll go to the reception after, which is very close to my mom’s home.

The drive up and down the coast was spectacular. The wildflowers were all blooming. It was this ephemeral corridor transporting me to and from my last look at the man who started me on my Kung Fu journey. The man who laid my foundation, and cemented my path. Such a blessing those flowers, so brilliant and so fleeting.

[Drunk Monk]

Been 20/20 hindsighting the weekend.  I wish I had touched base with more of the old guard.  At the reception, I found myself surrounded by a lot of the younger brothers (well, not so young anymore) and well, I see Chris all the time because I work with him.  Hoel too.  Both were former WLE employees, so that sort of made sense, but I should've really spent more time with some of the people that I hadn't seen in decades.  I kept dodging Lynn, who kept trying to shuffle near me but I avoided making eye contact all the way through.  Haymo approached me at the viewing and that was unavoidable - it bugged me when he stepped up in line to offer incense right after the disciples before the general attendees were invited.  Fucking Haymo.  I'm also bummed I wasn't able to demonstrate my 3-section staff at the reception because that space was way too small.  Oliver was kind enough to ask me if there was something else I'd want to do, but I wasn't thinking on my feet well and declined.  I wanted something that wasn't beginner, wasn't too flying-kick/low-sweepy, and something that Sifu taught me and nothing came immediately to mind that was polished enough to show in that small space.  In retrospect, I could've pulled out Sifu's mantis form or borrowed Oliver's jian and recited Tai Yu sword.  I should've had a Plan B ready. 

Maybe this is the Kubler-Ross anger stage.  Yeah, that's probably it.  

I have another TCJU judges meeting.  Hopefully I can contain myself today.  There's some solace in the work.

[cranefly]

Yeah, Haymo.  I knew there was a possibility, or likelihood, that he would show.  I prepared myself for it in the days beforehand.

I decided to greet him cordially and ask how he was doing, and keep things positive and civil -- as long as he didn't try to use the occasion to elevate himself.

I didn't notice when he tried to sneak through at the end of the disciples.  Others did, and notified Steve, who quickly announced the completion of the disciples, and that now others could come forward to bow.  Lady Cranefly thinks Steve is a genius.  Then again, when it comes to demented megalomaniacs, nothing gets through to them.

Haymo brought one student -- presumably as a witness.

I need to talk to the others, make certain we have a game plan should he try to spin something out of this.  Oliver can shut down his site if he resumes proclaiming himself Sifu's top disciple.  What we do if he chatters on other sites, well, that's less certain.  I'm working on some text about what discipleship means, and how it goes beyond mere martial skill, and how the master makes the selection, and makes the discipleship ceremony a public event to clearly identify the lineage holders.  This could be tossed out every time he makes his claim.  If that doesn't work, we can make clear that Sifu himself objected to Haymo's claims, etc.  But best not to engage him in a fight if at all possible.  Just empty him, deflect him, stab him in both eyes with a sword.


Maybe I shouldn't have been so cordial with Haymo, but I think Sifu would have been, and I had decided on it beforehand.

[Drunk Monk]

True, Sifu was cordial, almost to a fault. Do you follow Haymo on Facebook? He’s psycho.

[cranefly]

Hmmm.  Haymo on Facebook.  Oh bother.  Am I feeling up to looking at it?  Maybe tomorrow.  Or the next day.

I guess I have an obligation to keep an eye on him...