Like Duncan, John and Lawrence, I also experienced "the wholeness" that was Simon. He could be difficult at times, although understandably so, at most turns. His advice and ability to relate was uncanny. His semi-regular correspondence helped me through some extremely rough patches and I'll cherish the ways in which we related, for better as well as worse. He was one of the ones to give me a major push into coming into my own as a writer, and helped me relearn that nothing without challenge is worthwhile. My own views on the last few months are probably best kept private, although I feel I have a limited insight. We never actually met, although I would consider him the very definition of a long-distance friend. I'm not much for regrets, but I'll admit I now deeply regret not making it to Los Angeles to meet him in November of this year.
One thing I will miss in particular was his tendency to describe his surroundings and what he was consuming along with whatever work I'd sent him. Food, booze, brands of cigarettes, music, weather and so on. His personality made mundane details seem just that much more special. He was observant and insightful as well as empathic to the extent it's possible for someone to be. I recently told a friend that he wasn't too far from a prism, through whom was channeled the full spectrum of human experience, radiating the beauty and creativity (along with tragedy) that characterizes it. The words "passion," "struggle," "triumph" and "bliss" somehow fall desperately short when trying to communicate just who Simon was and what he was capable of.
Needless to say, I am left very bereaved by his premature departure. Nevertheless, I can't hold it against him and feel his presence still in the immeasurable legacy he's left behind. He wouldn't want me moping around, so I've been "working like a Protestant motherfucker," to quote our publisher. Lots of gratitude to pay forward.
Edit: I'll add a highlighted memory, because only someone like Simon could force edits on an upcoming work posthumously. As certain health complications of his had been mentioned, I'll share that he once believed (in earnest) that one of my best friends was an undercover FBI agent. After the two of them met, his opinion changed, somewhat radically. I'll miss that crazy motherfucker.
