The hardest and darkest pieces of writing that I've ever attempted.
My tribute to Prasanna
This is one of the hardest and darkest pieces of writing that I've ever attempted. This is because there simply are no words to express what Prasanna Ratnayake meant to me. Astonishingly, I only knew him for a year and five days. In such a short time he became an integral and loving part of my life.
It was Prasanna's idea to make a documentary of my life after we met through a mutual friend. And so we worked on it together: he with his great talent, patience and sensitivity and I with my natural talkativeness, openness and many a tale to tell.
What a fulfilling and exciting enterprise! Though I entered into it reluctantly at first, Prasanna sparked my enthusiasm and responsiveness. We had a smooth routine: first a session in front of the camera till my words dwindled into nothingness, sometimes for an hour straight. Then Prasanna had a scone and tea as we relaxed into wide ranging conversation. Talked about everything we did: bits of personal life, books, the state of the world, peace, other activities and interests that engaged us, my family and his beloved, nay adored wife Margaret, my friend of some 20 years.
What made Prasanna so special? Gentleness, compassion, intellectual curiosity, tolerance, serenity, loyalty, affectionateness. Ah! the words do come after all. He evokes them; he inspires them; he deserves them.
I mourn, I grieve, I lament. Goodbye my treasured friend Prasanna. Hello exquisite memories.
It was Prasanna's idea to make a documentary of my life after we met through a mutual friend. And so we worked on it together: he with his great talent, patience and sensitivity and I with my natural talkativeness, openness and many a tale to tell.
What a fulfilling and exciting enterprise! Though I entered into it reluctantly at first, Prasanna sparked my enthusiasm and responsiveness. We had a smooth routine: first a session in front of the camera till my words dwindled into nothingness, sometimes for an hour straight. Then Prasanna had a scone and tea as we relaxed into wide ranging conversation. Talked about everything we did: bits of personal life, books, the state of the world, peace, other activities and interests that engaged us, my family and his beloved, nay adored wife Margaret, my friend of some 20 years.
What made Prasanna so special? Gentleness, compassion, intellectual curiosity, tolerance, serenity, loyalty, affectionateness. Ah! the words do come after all. He evokes them; he inspires them; he deserves them.
I mourn, I grieve, I lament. Goodbye my treasured friend Prasanna. Hello exquisite memories.
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