Arthur Heath Prawitt

Dear Arthur,

In 1996, we were supposed to be married. Instead, a powerful illness came upon you. It split us apart as a couple, but not as friends.

For a long time, I held a hope that you would find a way to manage it. You were so brilliant that I thought you would surely solve that problem. I often wondered if that's what you were doing with the tomes of mathematical equations you were writing: Trying to find a way to go back to 1996 and change the course of history. But I think some things aren't to be solved- they just are.

In spite of our faults and failures, we created the most spectacular masterpiece. She is our legacy. For as hard as your life was, I know you knew boundless joy in having a daughter. I remember what you said the first time you held her.

I don't believe this is good bye and I know you don't either. Energy is neither created or destroyed. This is just transformation and it is inevitable. But my heart aches, nonetheless.

I'm grateful for the time we had during what I believe were the best years of your life. See you later, Arthur.

Love,

Mary

Art,

I hope wherever you are, you know that you will be forever missed. Ever since Jeff passed in 1997, you were there, we helped each other heal, but I was healed far more than you. We did not part on the best of terms and I accept full responsibility for that, but please know I was never angry at you and I never thought any negative thoughts because this is our cycle, we were family then fall outs, fall ins.

We made music, we made the most ridiculous pass times over the years, we used to make the AT&T Text To Speech engine says the stupidest things and found so many bugs in the platform that I still consider sending them a bill for our QA work on it.

You hated the music you made, but I of course thought it was awesome, but I get it, you liked things I made that I absolutely hated.

I am sorry for the times I was not there for you, as one of my best friends ever I am honestly left without words. I understand, more than anything, I do understand you and your actions. I apologize for any time I offended you but had the best of intentions in mind.

You cared deeply for the world and for society, in our thousands of hours of bullshitting and wasting time, I saw what a good person you are and always have been.

I will go forward and try to do in my life what I think you may have wanted to do in yours, I will try to help people as much as I can, I just wish I could have been able to help you more, but this is not the fault of anyone but the universe and the coding in every one of us.

The programs we used to write still amuse me to no ed, our tens of thousands of miles driven through the mountains just to wander and look for cool things to do, or just nothing to do, the adventure of looking for something to do is what we did.

When you visited in 2018, it was the best, you touched my entire family in ways you may never know, I told you but you of course did not want to believe that you had the ability to forever change everyone who interacted with you.

I do not know what lies beyond this consciousness, but I hope whatever it is that you are able to have some sort of solace now that maybe you did not before.

I want to thank you for all the good times we have had, even with 600 miles between us and nothing but this dastardly internet to communicate with.

The internet, that is something else, I would not have the career I have now if it weren't for you introducing me to computers back in 1997 when we would troll chat rooms and endlessly just entertain ourselves with endless crap that many others would find to be meaningless nonsense, I now have a successful career as an IT Systems Administrator, because of you, my kids will grow up with the stability I did not have. How can anyone say you didn't have a huge and permanent impact on my life?

I would give it all back to see your half smile as you scoff out "Wha..." at a confusing, yet funny joke, situation or statement.

I feel it is safe to say that of all the losses I have experienced, the loss of you is the one that will be the most significant.

As much as it is possible, I truly loved you as one of the closest and most honest, true and amazing friends I have ever had the privileged of having.

I could go on for hours, as I am only 5 minutes in, and I have more to say, but alas we crashed enough websites in our time with our antics, I will put more out there as it seems appropriate, because the stories we have together in my opinion are simply amazing.

Thank you for everything you have given me, I will now, in turn, give it to the world.

Come back ... Please.

What kindness radiates from photos I've seen of Arthur, unfortunately, I did not get to meet him in person. Extending my deepest sympathies to Arthur's family. May his soul be free and at peace. Much Love to all.