Adieu, Ricky
April 23, 2007
18 April 2007 - Our friend Ricky leaves us and journeys to his place in the kingdom of heaven.
21 April 2007 - We, his friends, and his family bid him a final farewell.
Looking at the picture on the right (taken outside the crematorium on Manila Memorial where Ricky was then being cremated with his son Rocky) I find myself thinking, "if only Ricky could see us now." But then who is to say he wasn't watching us at the time? And smiling with us while we reminisced about all the times we spent together on VA and NWA activities. I bet he was chuckling at the anecdotes about the "lap dance of death" from his "victims".
Yes, death is a sad event, and yet we choose not to wallow in our friend's death but rather would celebrate the life he has lived. Ricky has touched so many lives and has been a positive influence to so many people that it seems impossible to believe he won't be there to joke around with. Even talking about him in the past tense seems wrong.
Ricky, someday, we will all join you up there, and when we do, we will party geek-style — with a convention to top all conventions!
This may seem inappropriate but Ricky was a big fan of Monty Python so I would like to share some lines from Monty Python and the Holy Grail which I found highly amusing.
Dingo: You must spank her well, and after you are done with her, you may deal with her as you like… and then… spank me.
All: And me. And me too. And me.
Dingo: Yes. Yes, you must give us all a good spanking.
Dingo: And after the spanking, the oral sex.
Galahad: Well, I could stay a bit longer…
To quote Dr. McCoy, "In this galaxy, there's a mathematical probability of three million Earth-type planets. And in all of the universe, three million million galaxies like this. And in all of that… and perhaps more, only one of each of us." There can be only one Ricky Sunico and we are privileged to have known you, Ricky.
Safe journey, Ricky, and adieu!
Remembering Ricky
April 19, 2007
Death and illness … two things that people have difficulty accepting and dealing with. I guess it is always harder for the people that are left behind.
I was shocked when I received the news yesterday afternoon that Ricky (3rd from the right) suffered a stroke and was rushed to Medical City's ER. I couldn't believe it. I had to read the message over and over until finally I had to admit to myself that it couldn't be a hoax … not from Rej.
I made my way to Medical City last night with Jon of VA to visit him at the hospital. It was after visiting hours so all I was able to do was offer my support to Reitch (his gf), Ricky's family, and pray with the other NWA people who were there to lend their support to his family.
This evening, in the middle of TK class, Rej texted me and told me that Ricky was transferred to a private room so that we could say our goodbyes. Even after reading that it still didn't occur to me that Ricky had already left us. I guess I was in denial still. I was thinking, maybe he is in a coma and accepting visitors.
It's a hoax, right? Ricky is going to be okay, right? He is just sleeping and in recovery, right? … Enough denial. I have to accept … a good friend has passed away.
I can't imagine a VA event without Ricky in it. I can't imagine a con without Ricky in it. Whenever I watch Monty Python, Ricky is the first person that comes to mind. Ricky was 43 (some say 45). He will be greatly missed. I will remember him with great fondness and will cherish all the times we spent together working on stuff for VA.
We love you, Ricky.
