My Thanks to the Brutal Community

Most of you out there in the Brutal community are already aware that my (and Knowda’s) mother Ruth Ellis passed away on February 11th after a 3 year protracted battle with ovarian cancer. Through her illness and our attempts to keep her alive we uncovered much knowledge about health and disease that I hope over time we can share with you in order that you might avoid the same fate.

The point of this article is not to write a story but rather offer thanks to all those that through thought, gesture and deed provided nothing short of overwhelming sympathy, empathy and caring. Thank you for all the emails, cards and flowers. Thank you for the items you made as symbolic references, the messages you posted in the newspapers and the words you spoke about Ruth. Thank you for offering to mow the lawns, do the shopping or just go out for a beer. Thank you for being in another country yet making me feel like you were right next to me with your kind words. Thanks for the hugs, the tears and the smiles.

You guys have been incredible and both me and Brutal are blessed that you are part of the community. One of the most profound emails I received comes from Chris Crowell, a previous Brutal profile. Chris’s words really moved me so I thought I would share them with you. I really look forward to Chris’s book and hope we can offer it to the Brutal community at some stage.

Chris wrote:

I don't know what you're going through man, but I do know that everyday I feel more and more out of place in this world and this body and I guess it's like the song says, "God only cries for the living...". There's probably not much I can do from halfway around the world but still here's a little something from a book I've been working on:

"Who wants a plastic rose when you can have the real thing? The plastic one never dies but it never lives either. The real one does both and therein lies its beauty."

Thanks Chris and thanks Brutal.