Remembering Noah Witke (Group 42)

Helen Cespedes (Group 42): I saw you!! … a few days before … you were crossing 65th, headset perched on your wispy hair, purpose in your step, hard at work for the film festival. I couldn’t reach you in time to say hello.…

Neener!

I saw you!! … a few days before … you were crossing 65th, headset perched on your wispy hair, purpose in your step, hard at work for the film festival. I couldn’t reach you in time to say hello. But I smiled to myself, so happy to see you there, to know you were there, in the world, working hard, making others smile, doing whatever you could to make this particular day a little easier, a little better, for everyone you passed. So, I said a silent “Hello, Noah!” with my eyes that smiled to see you there.

And, of course you said hello back … a few days after…your grinning, warm face, popping up on my the email account of my phone, with the caption poetically under your name “signed out.” You must’ve used your account on my phone to look up sides or something. Perhaps, it was one of the very few times I was helping you. Helping you tape an audition, I think. Because most of the time you were helping me: helping me move, helping me think, helping me try to be an adult although you were younger but more mature somehow. The acts of generosity you did on my behalf keep multiplying in my mind. And, I was one of many. But, seeing your face there once again, I smiled. You said hi back.

The thoughts of this letter disintegrate, unresolved, inconclusive … Just a chance to say another hello and a thank you …

Love,
Oderwaller

 

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