I wrote an entry about our friend Chris on Wednesday, but my web connection failed just as I went to post it, and the entry was lost.
Chris Maus, who introduced B and me in 1986, died last Tuesday night, 5/2/06, after a 16-month battle with cancer. He was 45. He was an architectural designer, a musician, a visionary and thinker, a computer geek, and a dear, dear friend. We met him in Boston (he and I worked at the same architectural firm) but his roots - despite his protestations! - were here in the heartland. His can-do "pioneer spirit" in building his cabin by hand in the Wisconsin woods, his independence and self-sufficiency, his minimizing of his pain throughout all the cancer treatments and at the end: all these are testament to his spirit and character.
His sister Mary called to share the sad news on Wednesday morning, and his father and wife called on Thursday to update us on the arrangements. His funeral was last Friday in Cold Spring, MN - a day that started raw and cold but turned sunny and springlike during the course of the burial mass.
The priest gave a eulogy that was a little too pat and practiced - but still it jolted some questions in me: what is the right life to live? What are the right things to strive for? Part of my despair at the death of loved ones is that I can't believe in a hearts-and-flowers concept of heaven, where we are all reunited after this earthly toil - but if I can take some comfort in his life and example, it's that Chris marched to the beat of a different drummer, and showed by example that conventional goals of prestige in the workplace, making lots of money on the 9-5 treadmill, and the consequent inattention to the world of nature and the environment are hollow, shallow ways to live.
Good things to keep in mind.
J.C.,
I'm glad you wrote this. I attempted to send Chris M. e-mail from the DC area 2 days too late.
So this is a good place to post that which he never got to read but I will always remember, and how he touched my life.
May 4, 2006
Chris,
I will always remember you and 2 specific events for the remainder of my life:
1. We were riding our bicycles by Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis one summer evening. We both saw a man tip over in his wheelchair down where the grass meets the beach off the bike path. Without saying a word to each other, we rode over to the man who tipped over, we heaved the wheelchair and the man upright. The man said nothing. It was like he was expecting us. We rode off. The three of us never said a word.
2. Our motorcycle/camping trips to Madeline Island (Apostle Islands), off the coast of Bayfield, Wisconsin. We'd set up camp, drink ourselves silly, wake up, go to the beach and soak in the wonderful crisp Memorial Day morning sun on our faces. I loved that island so much I named my youngest daughter after her.
I hope I'm as strong as you've been when my time comes.
Always,
Jon Russell
all of us chicago were unaware of his battle with cancer. we wish would have known. he meant so much to all of us and was so many things to us: a teacher, a musician, an advisor, a friend. he disappeared up into the woods, which was a dream of his while we all knew him here, toiling away at the trib. i'm relieved to know that he met Karen and was happily married through all of this, he deserved so much happiness. we'll miss you chris, i have your baseline on robot 2 the rescue...that's a little part of you i will always be thankful for. love kristen of corn productions
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