Episode 114 - Bits & Pieces (A Tribute to Jonco)

After almost a month, we're BACK! This episode is mostly a tribute to my friend Jon (aka Jonco) who passed away at the end of last year. He was a great guy with a big Internet presence and I needed to talk about him and pay tribute to him. So in this episode I spend the entire time talking about stuff I'd posted on my social media that made it onto his well-known blog www.bitsandpieces.us and some related memories. I cover a TON of ground in this one...but it's all mostly about Jon.

After some debate I've decided not to post a time breakdown, because I'd really like everyone to listen to everything and get the full context. (And also because it's difficult to know where and why I'm dividing the episode.) But in brief, here are the songs that were used...and I'd also like to encourage you to check out the companion blog at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com for more stuff. And of course you're free to e-mail me at db@derekbrink.com with questions and comments.

Thanks so much for joining me in this episode, which is very near to my heart.

Here's the player:

Songs:

Outdoor Summer Concerts
Live Your Life
Man in the Mirror
Simple Things

Photos:

Here's the cover... Most important is the massive brown/olive segment that makes up the old Bits & Pieces t-shirt, which I've proudly worn over the years. It needs a wash, but I hope to wear it to the next Glutton Memorial Day Pignic, when Jon's ashes will be placed.

I referenced this photo in the show. That's Jon in the picture. He's a meme. And he's been popping up since 2013! Here's his original post: https://www.bitsandpieces.us/2013/07/21/old-time-selfie/

And here's the most recent one about it: https://www.bitsandpieces.us/2020/01/01/old-school-selfie/  Both add a lot to the context of the photo. But mostly I just think it's cool that he's still out there. Maybe forever.

This is my screenshot of Dick Van Dyke's Twitter handle after his brother Jerry died. Jon grabbed it and put it on B&P. And I thought that was cool. Everything about it was cool...except for Jerry's loss, of course.

...and with apologies to my dad and the state of the island in his kitchen... This was the last photo Jon ever took of me. It's not my favorite photo of me...but it's an important one. I'm on the left, with a crazily long beard that has since been shaved. My bald-spot is clearly visible. And I SWEAR there's hair under the band of the headphones! ...but this was it. This was the last time I saw Jon. And he took a moment to take a picture. I'm very grateful for that. Jon took photos of me for my whole life. I actually have photos of myself that he took of me when I was a baby. My entire life has been documented by Jon at one stage or another, up until the moment in this photo. I'm very sad to know he won't be photographing me getting older, greyer, sicker, uglier, and stupider...but that's ultimately to his benefit. Bless him.