RIP to a dear MMJ fan

[weeniebeenie]

I am so sorry for your loss Misti, Erik seemed like a lovely person. I will definitely play some MMJ in his honour.
My thoughts are with you and your family.

[lambo]

Misti,

I just wanted to express my condolences and share with you my own close loss. I am younger than most on these boards (23 years old) and have only become a My Morning Jacket fan within the last year or so, but I feel like I can relate to your loss on some level. My older brother Adam passed away in 2008, just as I was getting ready to begin college. We were big fans of the Dave Matthews Band. I still regularly listen to DMB and go to shows, and to be completely honest, it is when I feel closest to him in the sort of spiritual way. There is no question that music fuels strong emotions and memories, and it connects me to Adam more than anything else. I hope you find some comfort whether its in music or whatever else you shared with Erik.

I never spoke with Erik, but within the past few months as I began really listening to MMJ and preparing myself for these 3 shows at Port Chester, I do recall seeing some of his posts and appreciating his genuine excitement. These were my first MMJ shows, and I don't think I have to tell you or anyone else that went, but they were near flawless. I personally hate when people use cliche lines about the loss of people, especially when they were so close to you. But I do think its cool that he was probably in a happy state when he died.

Anyways, sorry if this was more rambling than consoling, but I just wanted to share.

-Alex

[exist10z]

Misti,

I just wanted to express my condolences and share with you my own close loss. I am younger than most on these boards (23 years old) and have only become a My Morning Jacket fan within the last year or so, but I feel like I can relate to your loss on some level. My older brother Adam passed away in 2008, just as I was getting ready to begin college. We were big fans of the Dave Matthews Band. I still regularly listen to DMB and go to shows, and to be completely honest, it is when I feel closest to him in the sort of spiritual way. There is no question that music fuels strong emotions and memories, and it connects me to Adam more than anything else. I hope you find some comfort whether its in music or whatever else you shared with Erik.

I never spoke with Erik, but within the past few months as I began really listening to MMJ and preparing myself for these 3 shows at Port Chester, I do recall seeing some of his posts and appreciating his genuine excitement. These were my first MMJ shows, and I don't think I have to tell you or anyone else that went, but they were near flawless. I personally hate when people use cliche lines about the loss of people, especially when they were so close to you. But I do think its cool that he was probably in a happy state when he died.

Anyways, sorry if this was more rambling than consoling, but I just wanted to share.

-Alex

Alex,

Thank you for that. Your words mean a lot to me. So sorry about your brother. My loss is excruciating beyond words really. But music brings me back to him. This will probably sound strange but I'll share it anyways. I may have even posted this on another thread so forgive me if so. Anyway, during the cover of "All Night Long" Saturday night in PC, Erik and I danced so close. He had his arms around me and kissed my cheek 'peanut' throughout the song ( he used to call my cheek my 'peanut'). It was a great memory and it is during that song that I took the picture you see in the beginning of this thread. This is the 'strange' part so forgive me. I got his ashes yesterday at the funeral home. When I got home, I went to You Tube, pulled up "All Night Long" at PC and turned it up loud, held his box of ashes close to me and danced to the song with him. Sorry if that sounded morbid to you guys but it was like I felt his spirit there smiling upon me.

Music is powerful and it is a love we both shared. In music, he will always be by my side. Again, anyone that would like to add me on FB, please do. I don't stay on top of MMJ shows as much as Erik did, so keep me in mind and I'd love to join you all one day.


All the best and thanks for the continued support.

Xoxo
Misti

[capt. scotty]

Damn, just saw this news on FB a little bit ago. I never met Erik like many here it seems, but thoroughly enjoyed his contributions here and started talking to him more on here in the past 6 months or so. His enthusiasm for MMJ was easy to see on the forum, but I really appreciated his enthusiasm for other music/bands as well. Sorry for you & your family's loss Misti. Thanks for posting about it here as well, I think he would have wanted that.

[jaye]

Misti that is such a sweet story, not strange at all.  Big hugs to you and I do hope we get to meet at a show someday. 

[DaFunkyPrecedent]

Misti,

My condolences to you and your family.  May Erik live in all of our hearts forever through the music of My Morning Jacket.  I hope someday you can come to one of the shows and experience the music with us - and you can help bring Erik's spirit into that room so we can all say hello once again. 

Much much love,
Casey

[GO4IT]

Alex,

Thank you for that. Your words mean a lot to me. So sorry about your brother. My loss is excruciating beyond words really. But music brings me back to him. This will probably sound strange but I'll share it anyways. I may have even posted this on another thread so forgive me if so. Anyway, during the cover of "All Night Long" Saturday night in PC, Erik and I danced so close. He had his arms around me and kissed my cheek 'peanut' throughout the song ( he used to call my cheek my 'peanut'). It was a great memory and it is during that song that I took the picture you see in the beginning of this thread. This is the 'strange' part so forgive me. I got his ashes yesterday at the funeral home. When I got home, I went to You Tube, pulled up "All Night Long" at PC and turned it up loud, held his box of ashes close to me and danced to the song with him. Sorry if that sounded morbid to you guys but it was like I felt his spirit there smiling upon me.

Music is powerful and it is a love we both shared. In music, he will always be by my side. Again, anyone that would like to add me on FB, please do. I don't stay on top of MMJ shows as much as Erik did, so keep me in mind and I'd love to join you all one day.

Facebook.com/misti10

All the best and thanks for the continued support.

Xoxo
Misti

Misti,
Based on the picture, it looks like you were up in the Balcony on Sat. night with Ms GO4IT, myself and a few others from the forum. You and Erik were probably only steps away from where we were.  I remember during All Night Long that we were all dancing so hard that the balcony was just bouncing up and down - it was a bit fun and scary all at once and I posted this to the 12/29/12 thread at the time:
"Balcony moving out of control. I may fall out!"

Thanks for sharing that very special moment and I can definitely understand why you would want to remember and relive it.  We all understand how special their music is and how much comfort and joy it can provide.

If they come back to Merriweather I will host another local pre-party for the Forum Faithful and you must come.

-Rob

[Hawkeye]

Hi Misti,
So sorry to hear about your loss...this just seems crazy to me.  I know this kind of thing happens in life, but it always seems so far removed until it happens to someone you "know."  I never met your husband, but I really enjoyed reading his posts and playing Fantasy Football with him this year...I felt bad for him, that his team was performing so badly, through no fault of his own!

He seemed like a very kind, intelligent man, who I would have loved to meet in person.

I will add you on Facebook if that's okay!  (Dan Dunne)

[Hawkeye]

Just read your last post about dancing with the ashes Misti...I can imagine my wife doing the same!  Stay strong, and we are here for you!

[CC]

a message from jim:

hello misti- so very sad to hear of erik's passing. obviously i did not know your husband, but i do know how very much our fans mean to us in being a part of what we do- because without the fans the circle is not complete, and quite frankly without people like erik we would not be able to do what we do or share what we share, and feel the circle completed with the beautiful exchange of love that goes on between listeners and musicians as music is played and shared. i send a big thank you to the heavens for the energy of erik that he shared with us, while he was here in this realm and on his journeys beyond. our hearts and best wishes go out to you and we send you much love and healing energy. -your pal jim james

[BigHerm]

All I can say is, I love MMJ.

[johnnYYac]

All I can say is, I love MMJ.

[Shug]

Jim James and MMJ is good people.  I'm proud to be part of the circle.

[Bigsky]

All I can say is, I love MMJ.

...I believe in the power of the soul, one that is wonderfully eternal. Misti...keep your soul open to Erik's; his energy will find you where ever you are.

[zanjam]

a message from jim:

hello misti- so very sad to hear of erik's passing. obviously i did not know your husband, but i do know how very much our fans mean to us in being a part of what we do- because without the fans the circle is not complete, and quite frankly without people like erik we would not be able to do what we do or share what we share, and feel the circle completed with the beautiful exchange of love that goes on between listeners and musicians as music is played and shared. i send a big thank you to the heavens for the energy of erik that he shared with us, while he was here in this realm and on his journeys beyond. our hearts and best wishes go out to you and we send you much love and healing energy. -your pal jim james

I am just floored.  This is so special.  Misti, I hope you find comfort in Jim's words. 

[vespachick]

Best Band. Best Fans.

[LD]

Best Band. Best Fans.

[ZLayLowZ]

That is so fucking cool that Jim James did that - truly amazing. Awesomeness.

And sorry for your loss. I hope all the support on here helps... Much love. Peace.

[scosby2]

We are all one big family and this just further proves that...I love this place and will spend the rest of my days here...Misti, don't you worry, we are gonna get you to a show...on the rail right under Jim. Trust me, we can make it happen.

[Fully]

Scosby WILL make that happen. Out of overwhelming grief and sadness new friendships can spring.