Thinking about Mark Gerking
I've been thinking of Mark Gerking so much lately, and I know I'm not alone. So many people are reeling from the loss of our friend.
Moments like this are when social media shines because it allows us to come together from all over and share memories. I gotta say, as much as I knew that he created many posters, seeing the sheer VOLUME of posters has been mind blowing. I do hope we can all come together to produce some kind of book of them.
One thing that has been hard to accept for me is that Mark wasn't well and I didn't know. I am once again reminded how little we know what others are going through, even those we love. I'm trying not to beat myself up over this, but it stings. I'm also trying to figure out a way to learn from it. Of course, no matter how much we might reach out we still will never know the depth and reality of what someone else is going through. Hell, sometimes I don't know the depth and reality of what I'M going through.
Just the same, I wish I'd been better at being there for you, Mark. You will always be in my heart.
I'm sharing this Kevin Welch video again (below) because I came across some texts between us regarding it (not that I can get through watching the video without weeping). We had just sent him a package of posters signed by the musicians who had played, and this is what he wrote back.
Shortly after that Tom Mason played at our house and I wrote Mark:
Just a few more pictures I found from the Steve Forbert show.
Onward.
Top photo: after a Olney show in mmmm, I don't know, a long time ago.