I really don't care if this sounds like sycophantic praise of brown nosing, Michael has always been someone who is worthy of praise, yet always turns it down. I've seen him debate the sexual revolution with a feminist, spirituality with various religious folks, the sanctity of Misanthropy against egalitarianism and each time he was very calm and diplomatic. Each time the verbal exchange ended in the opposing person conceding and thanking him. And he always denies his talents and attributes.
One day I was at his "lab" as he calls it, he was working on a set of matching coffins for his Polish friends. He brought out some mead (every winter he has amazing mead) and we sat in his garage sipping, listening to Beethoven, France Gall, DiJ and Nancy Sinatra+Lee Hazelwood. He sat in complete silence save for a small sigh when looking at his work, of an occasional humming when a song's Melody had struck his fancy. I, being an Italian, not used to silence asked him; is there anything you're not good at? His reply; "Hmm, nearly everything but questioning my existence on this mudball. Even then I most probably ask the wrong questions." He is always aloof, and then out of nowhere he says something that literally shakes you awake with it's poignancy.
He loves as hard as he hates. I mean this. I've only witnessed him in love once, and he seems to further dwell inside himself, but his eyes tell all. He will burst out and say something about the gal's attributes, but not their physical attraction so much as their demeanor or their intelligence. Then like that he bottles up and goes back into his inner sanctum. I guess my reason for talking about him is he is sorta M.I.A. and I miss him. He's happily with a woman, who nobody knows (not shocking, just aloof as usual) and has been skipping out on social engagements. Not really a big deal, he's not a social creature.
This brings me to another point. I've personally witnessed him at a social event, working the crowd and making folks smile and having the ability to speak with a vast knowledge on nearly any subject under the son. This wasn't a normal event, but a 150.00 per plate Art Museum fundraiser. He hobnobbed with Cincinnati's elite like he knew them. It really made me realize he isn't alienated, as that would require his wanting to be part of something, he chooses to be outside of societal constraints (his words) and can function with a tactile warmth, and then extoll the virtues of eugenics and Social Darwinism, or as he calls it, Nature's Eternal Fascism.
I've seen him make food for a neighbor who lost his wife, tend a bird with a broken wing, mow his widowed neighbors grass (like clockwork), teach children WWII History at the public library summer program, tend his garden and speak to his plants like they were his children. Every single time you think you have him figured out, he breaks any preconceived notions.
While in Uni, I did an interview with him for a journalist class. I'll make sure to post that sometime today, as it's very humorous and full of his sardonic wit.
I miss you Michael and I hope the person who has your time is worthy, but then again you probably think the opposite and worry of your worth. Please come back to us mortals (bahahaha) and regale us of your tales. But really I miss you buddy, the world is a better place with you in it.
*grammatical errors etc are not culled as this was something from my heart and I needed to get it out of my system.
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