Remembering Leonard

[B4real]

MarieM wrote: ↑Wed Nov 08, 2023 7:25 am
First, thank you, Bev, for starting this thread and thanks to all who have contributed over the years. Something comforting about seeing it show up each year.

My pleasure, Marie!

Good to read what you and others have to say about Leonard too!

[B4real]

Once more, I am remembering Leonard and his passing 8 years ago on this day, 07 Nov 2016.
And again, I didn’t want that remembrance to be too sad. His receding image below reminds me of such happy times for all of us (and for him) travelling to and passing through many cities and countries during those seemingly never-ending years of the last World Tour which did finally end in 2013.

Writing that, and compiling my image and words below, I am now reminded of when we thought that tour was ended in 2010 in Las Vegas. At that concert, the forum members attending repeatedly sang a verse from Passing Through to Leonard. As he came onto the stage he sang the last line with them –

“Passing through, passing through
Sometimes happy, sometimes blue
Glad that I ran into you
Tell the people that you saw me passing through”.

The first line above gives me an optimistic hope for The Future.

.... see you down the road ....

[AlanM]

Bev,
I’m sure you are not alone in your thoughts today.
I remember exactly where I was when I found out the news.
I am extremely grateful to have shared this planet with him for several decades and in particular for his works that continue to inspire me and comfort me to this day.
I have a playlist on my phone that comprises Leonard reciting a poem and then singing it.
The only exception is his recitation of “Sounds of Silence” which he didn’t write and if he sang it, I am unaware of a recording.

In both sadness and joy,
Alan

[B4real]

Bev,
I’m sure you are not alone in your thoughts today.
I remember exactly where I was when I found out the news.

Alan,
I also remember exactly where I was when I first became aware of Leonard’s passing. It was a “sound of silence” moment. I had the TV on but I wasn’t sitting down watching it. As I walked by it, I glanced at the screen and saw Leonard’s name disappearing as it scrolled across the bottom.

I firstly didn’t know in what context his name was written so I expectantly stopped and watched. Silently, it stated that he had died. Because it wasn’t announced verbally or visually by a person on the screen, I thought, did I just see that! Is that really true!! No, I can’t believe it – that can’t be for real!! I had to repeatedly watch those words seemingly floating forever across the bottom of the screen before the initial shock actually sank in and that Leonard was indeed, so sadly, no longer alive.

Yes, I’m also sure you are right in saying that I’m not alone in my thoughts and everyone does remember Leonard’s passing in their own way.

[abby]

The weather's just turned cool here & your lines from Passing Through make me want to listen to the old Leonard Cohen albums in my room like I used to. I remember where I was when I learned that Leonard had died. I told someone I was writing Leonard a letter & she told me she'd heard moments before that he'd died. I was a social worker then & went home early from work the next day. When I told my supervisor why I couldn't hold my shit together she told me she wore black for a week when George Carlin died because her father had loved him. xo you guys