It's been a while. . .

It's been a while since I posted here. The fact that the last few blogs were about Michael's passing kind of made this URL a bit of downer.

However, he and I talked about this blog in the past and Phil Ochs challenged me to step and not hold back, so we'll see what happens!

I spent a couple of hours on the phone with Jerrane on Wednesday and she is doing remarkably well. With the help of a number of friends, she is closing up the house in preparation for a temporary move to Texas. Her father is very ill and she wants to spend time with him. She is planning to return to San Diego after the first of the year. We talked about a lot of things and I'm deeply grateful for her attitude of growth and healing.

On her behalf, thanks to all of you for your tangible and intangible expressions of love and support.

Finally, I was in a conference room last week and one of the attendees stepped up to one of those whiteboard/projection screen cabinets and pulled down the screen to for us all to watch a projected Powerpoint presentation.

He pulled the screen down, let it latch and we all noticed a tiny label near the top of the screen. We all sat stunned as he read, "Do not lower the screen beyond this notice. Damage may occur."

I'll just let you all think about that one.

Thanks, Michael!

Yesterday was one of those bittersweet moments. . . meeting people you haven't seen for years, laughing uproariously one minute and sobbing the next. . . all because of Michael.

It was inspiring to hear of dozens of changed lives and a couple of remarkable stories from people who never even met Michael!

Personally, having Michael in my life meant spending very few minutes in my comfort zone, that soft, squishy, smelly place he defined so carefully for me every time I got close. Here is my hope going forward, that none of us who were at the party (yea, it was a great party, thanks again, Michael!) will be content with sliding into our CZ.

Whatever path we take, life is about learning and growing or it is a slow slide into mediocrity and boredom. I have very vivid memories of someone in a training saying they were bored. Michael was in their face in a second with that famous retort, "Well, you're boring!" It was the worst fate he could contemplate, to be alive and bored!

So as we move forward and follow up on the commitments yesterday to stay connected, I hope that this process doesn't just turn into a Michael Fan Club with all of us continually reliving the growth moments past, however fun that might be. It is the growth moments future that will honor Michael and become his true legacy.

So, here's to you Michael (that's a Chopin vodka martini my hand), thanks for the fabulous memories, my life and to the amazing future! May we both kick ass wherever we land!

Michael's Memorial

Michael Griffin

August 11, 1952 - May 5, 2007

Please join us for a memorial gathering to honor Michael’s life and reunite with Results Grads & friends…

Sunday, June 10, 2007 starting at Noon (ending at 3:00pm)

At

The Overlook House

3829 N. Melrose Drive

Portland, OR 97227

www.historicoverlookhouse.org/directions.html

12:00 – 1:00pm Potluck* lunch & social

*Please bring a dish to share! Drinks and table service will be provided.

Program & Sharing begins at 1:00pm

Special features include:

Music you’ll remember with our own DJ, Lauren Sylvis, and a time of sharing hosted by Larry Soule.

A display of memorabilia, RP scrapbooks, framed T-shirts, pictures and more (please bring yours to share, too).

Visiting with old friends and making new ones.

Remember, Michael was a playful man, so be prepared to honor him with

fun and joy!

Please RSVP to Rosalie Stamos by Friday, June 8, at rsdkj@comcast.net or call 503-335-0129.

Help us spread the word…forward this invitation or contact any of the other grads you know ASAP.

For more information about Michael check out Butch’s blog at http://butchnelson.blogspot.com

Note: Your contribution to help offset the expenses for this event will be greatly appreciated.

Michael and Make A Wish

JR Wall, Michael's business partner in San Diego sent me this poster regarding Michael and the Make A Wish Foundation.

Michael's Memorial

Rosalie and Janell have been working hard to find a venue and time that will allow us to celebrate Michael's life. Here are the current plans and please notice that the date has changed.

Date: Sunday, June 10
Time: Noon to 3 pm
Location: The Overlook House
Click here for directions

There will be more information soon on how the program will proceed, but what I know now is that there will be a potluck lunch.

There will also be about $300 of expenses to use this outstanding facility so please bring your favorite potluck dish and be prepared to "Leave a big tip!"

We will also have boards and pins to put up your favorite pictures. We will have a computer and scanner so we can scan the photos and make them available to all who want copies.

Finally, email was not in broad usage back in the Results days. So if you know emails of Results alumni who you believe would like to attend, please forward them to me at gandalf224@gmail.com.

Update on Michael's Memorial

A local paper in San Diego is hosting a "Memorial Page" for Michael. You can get to it by clicking this link. This page is designed to let you leave a comment for Michael's family and friends to read.

I spoke with Rosalie and she and Janell are tentatively planning on Sunday, June 3 for Michael's Memorial here in Portland. I'm having lunch with them today and will have more specific info as the plans are firmed up.

If any of you have information about Results grads who'd like to be involved, please send me their email addresses at gandalf224@gmail.com and I'll pass them on to the planning team. Most of the Results programs predated the widespread use of email (yoiks, could it have been that long ago?) and consequently we don't have an extensive list of email addresses.

Services for Michael in San Diego

Services for Michael will be held on Monday, May 14 at 2 pm at:

California Burial Chapel
5880 El Cajon Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92115
619.234.3272

The date for the memorial service in Portland is pending. I'll update here as soon as I have information.

Update

Carolyn just got off the phone with Mary Ann Griffin, Michael's sister, and she indicated that because of an autopsy required by the coroner, Michael's body may not be released until early next week.

That means San Diego services for Michael will most likely not take place until early next week. We will update this blog as soon as we have more info.

Also, Rosalie Stamos and Janell Rote have agreed to co-ordinate a memorial service for Michael here in Portland. I'm not comfortable posting their contact info on a public site, so if you would like to get in touch with them, email me at gandalf224@gmail.com and I will forward your contact info to them and they will get in touch.

Michael Griffin's Passing

I woke up this morning and saw a message on my cellphone from JR Wall, Michael's business partner and best friend, and it took me 10 minutes to work up the courage to check the message.

As many of you know, Jeranne has been very ill the last four or five years and in a conversation with Michael about 10 days ago, he talked at length about Jerrane's condition and the frustration he felt at not being able to find a solution to her illness.

He also mentioned in passing that he wasn't feeling good and he and his doctor were worried about his heart.

Yesterday, about noon, Michael laid down on the couch for a nap. Four hours later, when Jerranne couldn't wake him up, she ran outside and asked the neighbors for help. When the EMTs arrived, they confirmed that he had passed away.

I spoke this morning with JR and he indicated that Michael's family was assembling today and that he would keep me informed about upcoming events and arrangements.

Carolyn and I are planning to put together a memorial service here in the Portland area in the next 10 days or so. I will post all that information here and you can contact me directly via my cell, 360.931.2187 or my email at warren.nelson@comcast.net.

Michael was my best friend, mentor, coach and all around heck of a guy. I will miss him deeply.