I learned Alan Champion, beloved sign language interpreter, died last Friday after battling with cancer for a long time.  Despite his battle with cancer, he continued to work and showed his beautiful side instead of being bitter or angry about his time being cut short.  I wasn’t ready to think about him until today, the day of Easter, while I was hiking on AT.  I normally do not share anything personal about myself, however I feel comfortable to share with you all for today only.

I first met Alan a few years ago.  My first impression of him was that he was full of energy, wonderful sense of humor, and enjoyed chatting.  He loved to talk about his trips to Costa Rica which he went there several times.  He was fantastic with their diversity in eco-system and animals.  I asked him for some tips when I was preparing for my Costa Rica trip and gosh, he was resourceful person, indeed!  I met him once in while in New York City when I attended some Broadway and off-Broadway shows which he interpreted.  He was one of top theater interpreters in New York City.  He with other interpreters established the standard of what it takes to become a theater interpreter.  I was always blown away with his talents of interpreting the complicated concepts or lines from the play.  He did it so beautifully.  The theater world in New York City indeed lost one of its best actors and it will never be same without him ever again.

As the closet poetry writer, I wrote my poem at spur of moment in following of my friend’s father’s death a few weeks ago.  I think it is proper time to share it with you.

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I Remember You.

At the rising of the sun and at its dusking, I remember you.

At the whisking of the wind and the biting of winter, I remember you.

At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring, I remember you.

At the cobalt of the skies and in the warmth of summer, I remember you.

At the rustling of the leaves and in the alluring of autumn, I remember you.

At the arrival of the new year and when it departs, I remember you.

As long as I live, you too will live; for you are now a part of me, as I remember you.

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While I was in mourn for his death, I realized that my walk on AT was also remembrance walk to celebrate his life.  While I watched trees budding, flowers blooming, and animals coming out of its burrow or its home, these Spring season reminds me that there is a cycle to life and death – if tree dies, the new tree shall grow.  Alan may be gone from this planet, but his legacy remains.  He continues to live within each of us as long as we remember him.  His untimely death reminded me of another interpreter from New York City, Kathy Sciarbarra, who died two years ago unexpectedly this month.  I do miss her and her sayings like crazy, but life goes on and keep on spreading the good energy among people as she would want us to do so.  Walking on AT is such a good therapy for me – to ponder, think, evaluate, remember, and etc….and at same time, safe place for me to shed some tears among the nature other than a bear or gopher showing up on the  trail all of sudden, of course (winks).

Here is the link to the article from this past Fall of 2010 about Alan Champion, his life in general  and how he dealt with his cancer:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/30/theater/30sign.html