It is with deep sorrow that we announce that Alan passed away in his home in Roanoke, VA. Our family asks for your thoughts and prayers as we grieve this unimaginable loss, privately. Alan was a brilliant scholar, musician, artist, and friend and will forever be missed by all who knew and loved him.
We will follow up here with any future arrangements for Alan.
- Stephen, on behalf of the Ra Family
Even as a prodigal collector of notebooks & lupine artifacts, I had to dote especially on this handsome new manuscript-cover!
[I can still hear @PawsonRonnie tut-tuttin' my ash-strewn desk, ha!]
To christen it, I notated directions fer locatin' a bardic-wolf amidst the exodus.
Both Halloween (sorry fer the belatedness) & Furry Collective may be no more,
but chippin'-in where it counts is never out of season!
100% of proceeds will now go to the memorial scholarship of @cypress_etc , our album artist.
Search for "Furry Collective" on BC.
DOGDAYS4EVER
A drawing I did fer @IndyGoRat , who,
revelin' in the liminal spirit-realm--which is marked by an especial porosity on this blesséd day of Samhain--
has de- & then re-corporealized into a collection of liminal puns of liminal comedy-value...
One thing I miss about the years alcoholism dictated my life is that I had the energy/ability to make lots of music.
I'd often do these "improvisatory" recordings, aurally jottin' a cover of a song that was caught in my ear.
This one is "I Am My Mother" by @Wilco ; art by me.
Here's another one recorded 'round the same time, "You Are My Sister" by Antony and the Johnsons; art by me.
I think I'm seein' a commonality in subject-matter here...
Last one: "Animal Collective"
When Sigmund was a puppy, he howled when I was in the shower. It was always roughly a C#.
I sampled a recording of the howlin' over a quick cover of the pAper chAse's "Tornado," in A.
I let Charlotte join at the end, but she's (tone-)deaf now. 😿
Live music video fer my song “The Divine Sepulcher,”
as was sepulchrally divined fer the Scarey Tymes.
Feat. @IndyGoRat on rhythm git, bass, & backup vox;
and yer (pup-hooded) wolf, shreddin’ a stringed peal that’ll make yer fur stand on end!
In the 90s Dad would tease me about my "silly animal hobby."
I regret not fulfilling my perverse wish to debut my fursuit to him--a jocular gesture that I'm still his son, & he's still my idiosyncratically accepting dad.
Offerin' a hug to those missing someone.
#FursuitFriday
Dad was a beacon of refulgent love--
& the night before he passed, he even wrangled the Northern Lights all the way down to SW Virginia to light the way one last time.
Thank y'all so much. I may not respond expediently at this trying time, but it all means the world to me. 🖤🐺
I just got back from the hospital.
Here's the last good pic of us together, snapped while toastin'-in 2022 (L-R: @IndyGoRat , me, & Dad--also, Indy's father-in-law).
Rest in peace, Dad. May eternity arrive as tranquilly as life came grandly.
I will always love you so, so much.
Dad died yesterday.
He emigrated to rural PA from postwar Korea a year after "Unchained Melody" was released.
His rendition has long since replaced the original in my head.
I picked up his ol' guitar--the one I learned on--& did my best to hear Dad singin' his song once more.
I owe many of y'all communication. I have nothin' but apologies.
My illness has deepened such that I mainly experience life from bed now.
When I can git up 'n' about, singin' a song goes a long way. And so that's my humble offering today.
I love & miss y'all.
#FursuitFriday
Major disasters like Hurricane Helene reveal the ugliest face of capitalism, but they also show us the beauty of community. Help us rebuild Western North Carolina by donating today! @AshevilleDSA
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