January 23, 1997

Today would have been Bill's 19th birthday. In honor of that, I want to share some "stuff"...

I am seriously thinking about writing a book. Several of you have asked about that, and I know that a book could reach people that the internet doesn't. A lot of the writing has really already been done in the form of letters, journals, etc. but would have to be organized.

Also, a couple of people are talking with me about making a documentary about Bill, which may happen.

In looking at all this, I am talking with family and friends, working on getting a clear idea. This is an e-mail from yesterday, part of a "conversation" between Steve Schalchlin and me:

Steve:

As long as you don't allow anyone to turn him into some kind of Christian martyr. What is moving about Bill's Story was his innocence and "just another kid" quality.

Gabi:

I agree. He WAS just another kid. The kid who drove me crazy - now, you should have seen how his room looked - Akkkk! Not just when he was depressed either - what a mess! Hated doing his homework - there was always something better to do... When it was his turn to wash dishes - well, we could wait days (we would just let them keep piling up 'till the person whose turn it was did them - only in Bill's case, I wouldn't be able to find the counter, and would finally have to say something.) Typical stuff, and yet...

Steve:

And that's not to say he wasn't an extraordinary human being. He reminds me that we are all extraordinary human beings.

Gabi:

That is the whole point, isn't it?

I also want to share this list of music that Noel picked for his brother's memorial service. Music was SO important to Bill! Some of these were songs Bill loved, and others were ones that Noel thought needed to be included as part of his & our goodbye:

  • "Hold Back the Dawn" by Robbie Robertson
  • "Calling You" by Jevetta Steele ~ from the wonderful 1987 film Bagdad Café a.k.a. Out of Rosenheim.
  • "Fare Thee Well" by The Indigo Girls
  • "Nightswimming" by REM
  • "Vuh" by Sky Cries Mary
  • "Imagine" by John Lennon
  • "All Apologies" by Nirvana
  • "Healing Chant" by The Neville Brothers
  • "Ghost" by The Indigo Girls
  • "Silent Lucidity" by Queensryche
  • "Cursum Perficio" by Enya
  • "Be Careful of My Heart" by Tracey Chapman
  • "Sweet Lullaby" by Deep Forest
  • "Love of My Life" by Queen
  • "Ain't No Cure for Love" by Leonard Cohen
  • "Sounds of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel
  • "Pesky Angels" by The Righteous Mothers ~ a 1994 song by this great local band. The lyrics to "Pesky Angels" are here.
  • "These Are Days" by 10,000 Maniacs
  • "Let It Be Me" by The Indigo Girls
  • "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" by Pink Floyd
  • "Yesterday" by The Beatles
I also would now include "Shine My Life Like a Light" by The Indigo Girls.

And it wasn't written yet, but now I would add "Will It Always Be Like This? (Gabi's Song)" by Steve Schalchlin. Its on two of his albums The Bonus Round Sessions and Beyond the Light. The lyrics are on Steve's website here. Steve sang the song in public for the first time at a national PFLAG conference in Washington DC in 2000 with Alec and I sitting in the audience. The money raised from the sale of the CDs goes to support Youth Guardian Services.

© 1996 - 2007 by Gabi Clayton

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