In Memory of Gil Fagiani
Poet Extraordinaire and Beautiful Human Being
Gil Fagiani wrote one of the two book reviews on the back cover of Left of the Dial.
I had wanted him to write a book review because one of his own poetry books was titled Serfs of Psychiatry.
That book is an autobiographical account of his earliest job in the mental health field.
A Blanquito in El Barrio graphically conjures his descent into street drug abuse.
Gil is one of the people who lived to tell and was able to stay clean for decades.
He treated me come un figlia.
In his name (as was requested) I’m making a donation to the Southern Poverty Law Center.
I urge you to read Blanquito and any other of his books that you can find.
He is the third person I have lost in three years. Each of them to life-ending illnesses.
Our lives are like the song lyrics to “Big Yellow Taxi.” You don’t know what you have until it’s gone. All that remains of paradise in that song was a parking lot.
One day all that will be left of this planet is burnt earth.
It’s time. For days now I’ve been thinking of the quote: “Life is not a dress rehearsal.”
You and I don’t know how much time we’ll have here. We don’t know how much time we’ll have with our loved ones, friends, and others we’re close to.
Make every day a day when you wake up and choose to love.
There is no other way to live.
One day things could change. Love is a life preserver. Acceptance is a safety net.
Make every encounter with another person a positive one.
Find the good: In life. In other people. In your situation.
Take a cue from Gil Fagiani’s remarkable life:
Fight the good fight. It isn’t over until it’s over. Treat everyone you meet with kindness.
Left of the Dial 