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Monday, September 13, 2010

R.I.P. Jasmine Herron

Chris called me from his job today with a sadness you could hear right away. This girl he'd worked with for a little over a month didn't show up for her shift this morning and as it turns out she was killed last night in a freak bike accident. Jasmine Herron was a sweet 24 year old I'd met a couple weeks ago at Think Coffee where she worked with my brother. I don't remember her face and I wish I could. Chris said she was a nice girl and was moving back in with her mother at home in Colorado two weeks from now. This just kills me. I know it happens all the time but when it hits home like this it's just so sad. Took my fuckin' breath away. Rest in peace girl.

Here's one of the news articles about it. I wish I could find a nice picture.

My playwright friend, Casey Wimpee, who also worked with her, dedicated a video to her and had some words:

RIP, Jasmine Herron. 2/14/86 - 9/11/10. a sweet, fearless, beautiful, amazing young woman to know & work with, & funny as hell. who else could segue conversations from slavoj zizek to kathy acker to broom of the system while gang of four plays in the background? you & HCB will be dearly missed, valentine.

5 comments:

  1. Hey Man.
    I'm a high school friend of Jasmine's and we were really close. I wrote this poem for her and it would honor me to have it on your blog.

    For Jasmine

    I had a dream last night

    Where you flew

    In a party dress not made of gold

    Because you never wanted money

    Not made of glass

    Because you had to bear life’s hard knocks

    But made of rainbow shoelaces

    Of ruby yarn and silver string

    And because our hearts were torn in two

    You used it to sew us back together

    Because you always preferred being naked anyway.



    And while you flew naked

    You burst into dance

    You know

    The one everyone knows

    And is good at

    So while you flew by

    We couldn’t help but join

    Until we all were dancing

    And we all cried tears of joy

    And you loved it

    Cuz it was a party.



    And you kissed our foreheads

    And said don’t be late

    So we lined up

    And you painted us all

    In soft lavenders and silly pinks

    In sea greens and mountain orange

    And we smoked cigarettes

    That tasted like candy

    And spoke in French accents

    About how amazing your painting was

    Because it looked just like love.



    And god looked down

    And fell in love

    Because god is human like the rest of us

    And she makes mistakes

    She made you too good

    Too much

    Too soon

    And the bitch got jealous

    And though we weren't done with you

    She had to have you back

    When you flew.



    And when you got knocked off your bike

    For a moment you knew what flying was

    And then you shattered to the pavement

    Into a million rainbow sprinkles

    And we all made sundaes

    And everyone in the world shared you

    And not only were you delicious

    But you made us all forget our troubles

    For an instant.



    And businessmen put down their briefcases

    And children were released from school

    Because it was a party

    Where the cops never showed up

    And those jerks were cool for once

    And everyone was happy to see everyone else

    Because why not?



    Maybe it was all just a dream



    Its no ones fault

    Its just life

    And death



    And you said

    That though we’ll grow apart

    There was no distance too great

    That it could out span our love

    And though we have to spend time apart

    We will always have our memories

    Where we could spend an eternity

    together

    If I need it



    I want to thank you ever after

    Love you so hard

    Do the things we left undone

    The moments unborn



    I once had a dream

    Where I lost a best friend

    Before I knew what loss was

    And he left a hole

    Deep in my heart

    And I awoke in tears

    And now that I know

    How to lose a best friend

    I wish that I didn’t have to

    But I know in my dreams

    I can always find

    A dancing party girl.



    You went to New York to have the time of your life

    And its clear to me you did.

    Dance on party girl



    Jasmine Valentina:

    in a party dress to party in my dreams

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  2. Beautiful poem thank you for sharing

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  3. I've been blessed with Jasmine's friendship for 5 years and nothing will ever be the same now that she's gone.
    I'd like to collaborate on a song for her, can we sample lines from your poem?

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  4. I'm so sorry for your loss. Your poem for her is really beautiful.

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  5. I didnt know her that well or for very long time but she came across as somebody who was beautiful inside & outside i recall buyn her one single white flower(friendship) when she worked at beano's cafe in calgary ,alb,canada, just cause she was havn a rough shift at work that day & that made her smile & lifted her spirit up that day just like she lifted my spirit up many times by just being her self... thanks jasmine,I,though for a very short time i'm glad i'v known her

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