Paul Hawthorne
Remembrances
The news of Paul's death, when it came, sent me reeling. It was devastating to lose my friend of eight years, he was not just a friend but my guru, philosopher, advisor, mentor and benefactor and kindred spirit. We shared many similar beliefs and likes and dislikes. Paul's passing has created a huge void and it's hard to believe he's gone.
We were in contact on a daily basis over the eight years, sometimes as many as a dozen emails per day if the topic of conversation was interesting. Paul was certainly a very interesting guy to say the least... His knowledge of life, people, music, banjos etc etc was awesome and his patience in explaining things was unwavering.... I learned a lot from him and still have a lot to learn from him.
I have a cache of emails received from him totaling in excess of 5.5k. I lost more than that number after a hard drive failure about 5 yrs ago. I have more stashed on a CD. I'm glad I decided early on to keep Paul's emails for future reference because a lot of times the things that he shared with me were a little over my head then. I can reference any of those emails now and still learn from him. Sometimes, I will read what we were talking about on any given date say a year ago. I realise by doing that it makes it hard to 'let go' but I like to keep memories alive.
On one occasion around 3 weeks after his passing I was reading a message from 2004 where Paul had asked me if I knew a certain person who had bought a big name banjo from a big name player. I didn't know the guy in question then but I did as I re-read that old email... I hit the 'Reply' button to tell him, then it hit me seconds later that he had been dead for 3 weeks...I got a lump in my throat like a tennis ball.
During our friendship Paul generously sent me many things through the mail, usually banjo accessories but always included would be something unexpected like exotic tomato seeds, eg, Black Prince, Golden Girl, Purple Cherokee etc. I would grow them and keep him informed on their progress. I had lots of failures, Lancs England is a far cry from the sunny hot climate of CA USA. I did grow some Black Prince and they ARE black and kind of greenish inside. That success tickled him no end.
I suggested to Paul that in reciprocation for all the strings, heads, RR spikes, picks etc he had sent me I would create a bank account for him in The Royal Bank Of Geoghegan, thereafter referred to as RBOG. I would send him spoof legal looking bank statements periodically and boost the balance a few cents in 'earned interest' The purpose of the account (as well as to amuse) was meant to finance any purchases Paul wished to make off of eBay UK. The only transaction I brokered was a Win98se (CoA) disk. When I realised just how sick he was I asked him (stupidly) without thinking if I should send him the $80.00 in his 'account' - His reply - "<G> Not just yet!"
I have since been in touch with Robyn, Paul's long time friend and housemate and we agreed the cash will be donated to Christie's Cancer Research facility at Manchester, UK. I chose to donate there because my wife was treated there and close to death, she had a Stem Cell Transplant and has been in remission since 2004. Paul helped me through those bad times, his support and encouragement was a great comfort. He also took great hope and heart from my wife's success when he was himself struck down with cancer. I tried to do for him what he had done for me, I returned all the support and encouragement.
I could continue writing about Paul ad ifinitum, I have only scratched the surface here. I will end this by saying I'm proud that he called me his friend and that he could open his heart to me. I'm proud that early on he asked me to work on the design of the cover on his book, Gestalt Banjo, that WAS an experience! I feel honored to have been in his 'inner circle' and I will miss him for a very long time to come.
Finally, I'm glad my friend is no longer suffering and does not have to endure any further indignities.
R.I.P mon ami.... The Universe is yours.
Tony Geoghegan, April 26, 2007, Lancs, England
I was sad to read of Paul's passing. I was trying to get in contact with him about a banjo that I bought from him when I worked with him at Northrop. I also know Rick Hughes. Paul had contacted me about five or six years ago when he discovered that I lived in Winfield, Kansas. He wanted to know if I still had the banjo that he sold me. This was a banjo that he built while working at Northrop in the early 1980's. He wanted to buy it back if I still had it. I never got in touch with him. I'm sorry that I didn't. I still have the banjo and will always treasure it as a memory of Paul. He was a great guy. I think what I will remember the most about him was his positive attitude, always, his constant smile and his laugh. He truly embraced life. I am very sad that I did not get to see him before he passed away.
, April 15, 2007, Albuquerque, NM
Edited 26 Apr 2007 by WF