I miss his jokes, his hilarious way of describing things with such
exactness. I miss the way he laughed with his shoulders and without
making a sound in hopes of being able to laugh longer without
coughing. I miss his particularity with food both in presentation and
taste. I miss his big heavy winter jacket that made him look like the
Hulk. (I never told him that, but I think he would have liked the
comparison). I miss the way he teased you endlessly, especially in
public, in his own way of complimenting you. I miss the way he looked
so sharp in black and grew more handsome as he aged. I miss his
admiration of old cameras that, if I recall correctly, were somewhat
useless. I miss the way his eyes sparkled when he was feeling
particularly mischievous. I miss his eternal creativity and beauty he
brought to the world. I miss the way he lived in the present to the
absolute fullest and by his presence he enabled others to do the
same. When I see him again, I will ask him if he wouldn't mind making me a
sandwich with "two kinds of cheese!"
making a sound in hopes of being able to laugh longer without
coughing. I miss his particularity with food both in presentation and
taste. I miss his big heavy winter jacket that made him look like the
Hulk. (I never told him that, but I think he would have liked the
comparison). I miss the way he teased you endlessly, especially in
public, in his own way of complimenting you. I miss the way he looked
so sharp in black and grew more handsome as he aged. I miss his
admiration of old cameras that, if I recall correctly, were somewhat
useless. I miss the way his eyes sparkled when he was feeling
particularly mischievous. I miss his eternal creativity and beauty he
brought to the world. I miss the way he lived in the present to the
absolute fullest and by his presence he enabled others to do the
same. When I see him again, I will ask him if he wouldn't mind making me a
sandwich with "two kinds of cheese!"
In memory of Ivaan, I thought I'd post a few snapshots of him over the years. Most of them are somewhere on the blog already, but it's nice to see them all at once: a trip down memory lane.
Ivaan and his sister in 1945. |
Ivaan as a beatnik, centre right, at Harbord C.I., age 17 |
Ivaan, age 17, at Harbord C.I. |
Ivaan, 1986 |
Ivaan, circa 1972 |
Ivaan's first trip to Ukraine, 1979 |
Ivaan and me, 1986 |
Ivaan and me, 1986 |
Ivaan and me, 1993 |
our wedding reception, 1995 |
I
Ivaan, age 16 |
Ivaan christening Mariana, 2000 |
Ivaan in Cuba, 2001 |
Ivaan in Cuba, 2001 |