2008

We wish all of you a healthier, happier NEW YEAR than we've had last year. We love you all, and we wish an easier, better year to come for all of us.

Alan and Jackie

B.J.

I still hear your laugh
I still see your scar (chin)
I still hear your wisdom

No matter how far

I still feel your strength
I still feel your love
I still feel your presence

Almost the warmth of your hug

I still feel your comfort when I am alone
I still see your smile when I am at home

I see your big blue eyes and wide grin,
I think of all the times you helped me search within

I am reading the books you told me I’d like
I knew at the time that you would be right

I love you I love you I love you I do; I know you are with me but I still miss you

Xoxo

Lizzy

The Holidays and the year to come

Well I hope all of you had a wonderful Holiday season. I know I have been busy as I'm sure you all have. I know that Blake would have loved to spend this time with all of you. I wanted to take this time to remind us all that Blake will never leave our hearts and minds, but remember... live as he did. Don't waste any of your precious moments. We never know how much time we have, so make sure you let everyone you care about know just how much they mean to you.

I was talking with someone about the sense of feeling the presence of one we lost and feeling as if that presence was not there. Here is what I believe and what I told this person. I feel closest to Blake when I have an experience that we would have shared together. If I am sitting and watching a movie and start to laugh, I feel like he is there next to me smiling and laughing as well. It's not like we are suppose to have these amazing sensations like we are being touched from beyond, but it is the everyday things that turn our thoughts to him. That is when I feel closest to him and that he is there with me.

My wish for all of you is that this year to come is better than the last, and while it is one without our beloved Blake...just remember to live it to the fullest.

Peace, love, and joy to each and every one of you.

Sincerely,

Todd, Alexis, Aidan, and Jacob

A letter from a Friend

I received the following letter from someone who attended Columbia with Blake and I felt that it should be added to the blog for all to see. Once again we find how Blake affected another person and the impact he had on them.

I had attended Columbia College with Blake. I had several classes with him, including stage directing. We were actually pretty close during those college years at Columbia, and hung out a lot together outside of school while studying our craft. We met in the fall of 1991, I remember we both just turned 21 years of age. Blake was a great friend and extremely talented both as an actor and a stage director. We obviously lost touch after Columbia. The last time I saw Blake was in 1994. I simply can't believe he is gone. I have so many memories of him including helping me during my most troubling times, giving me such great advice, and being that Blake that would debate you about anything--and win. He always reading some science fiction novel, imitating "Renn and Stympy," and wearing many different kinds of black jackets like the business suit one, the medium length trench coat one or the one that was really not his style, but he wore it with confidence was the black leather jacket with the silver rings attached to each shoulder over his preppy yellow cashmere sweater. I allowed too much time to slip by, and now I'll never have the chance to say to him, "I really valued his friendship."

My deepest sympathies to you, his wife, Lisa, and his entire family.
There was only one Blake in this world. He was simply an original authentic piece of priceless art.

With my deepest sympathies,
Amber Carey Gitter

The Blake Cadkin Memorial Fund

Six years ago, Alan was one of the founding members of Friends of Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, and Jackie continues to be a member of the Advisory Board. At the organization's inception, we made a substantial contribution in order to start the process of building a visitor's center at the slough (say "slew": it's a wooded wetlands with aquifers below which cleanse and store a great deal of this area's water supply). That building is under construction right now and will open in April. Because Blake was such an avid reader and self-educator, we told him that we would open the Blake Cadkin Memorial Fund which would maintain the educational material in the Resource Room of the Center. Blake was very pleased with this, and when we spoke of it he would smile and say, "That's great!" We have established that fund, and below are excerpts from a letter we received from Joyce Sanders, president of the Board of Directors of this organization.

"The many volunteers and staff at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve will never know Blake Cadkin, but his memory will live long through the resource books and materials purchased in his name. Through your love of this remarkable young man, The Blake Cadkin Memorial Fund has been opened in the Friends of Six Mile Cypress Slough's special account in the amount of $4,175. Thank you for your special donation of $2500 to this fund. These donations from his many friends and family members have assured a successful start to the Resource Room.

I did not have the privilege of meeting Blake but I felt I knew him. The beautiful words and pictures of love and support toward him {on CaringBridge} was a tribute to his strength and courage. I feel he would be proud to have his name associated with the Interpretive Center at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve. Every book and resource material purchased through this fund will carry his name."

Thanks again to those of you who contributed to Blake's fund. It will be a perpetual memorial to his love of learning and love of reading.

Alan and Jackie

Remembering Blake with Sapphires

When Blake was a teenager he had his left ear pierced. Alan and I gave him a sapphire stud earring for his birthday at that time, and he wore it until we replaced it after a few years with a diamond. During his illness, the diamond was misplaced, and he wore the sapphire until he died. We are pleased and honored that he was buried with his sapphire earring.

Alan had been searching for a visible way to honor his son, and then it came to him. We have purchased sapphire stud earrings, and yesterday Alan had his left ear pierced. When his ear has healed, we will each wear a sapphire in tribute to and in memory of Blake.

Our love to all of you,
Jackie and Alan

The Holidays and Gift Giving

I'm taking a page from the Newland play book and suggesting that rather than think of ourselves this holiday season, we take a moment to think of the other people who are struggling with what took Blake from us. The Sarcoma Foundation has an easy to use web site to make donations to find a cure. I have personally requested as one of my gifts this year to donate on my behalf and I hope others will do the same. Let's try to help prevent future victims of this terrible disease.

http://www.curesarcoma.org/

May all of you have a happy and healthy holiday season!