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June 12, 2006
RIP Paul Ohashi
This weekend I received some bad news. A high school classmate and friend, Paul Ohashi, fell to his death during a mountain climbing expedition in Indonesia over the weekend.
I was in a lot of classes with Paul in grades 9 and 10, and enjoyed hanging out with him. He was smart, funny and very musically talented (he was a drummer, but had the uncanny ability to pick up and play just about any instrument he was handed). He introduced me to some interesting music that I know I would have never stumbled on myself (from King Crimson to taiko drumming).
After high school, Paul and I lost touch, last seeing each other at graduation. I looked him up a few times online to find out what he was up to and found out he had become a world traveler, so I wasn't surprised by the news that he was in south-east Asia.
Next year will be my ten-year anniversary of graduating from high school, and although the idea of a reunion wasn't very appealing (I still talk with just about everyone I still want to keep in touch with), I was looking forward to meeting up with a few people I hadn't seen, and Paul topped the list. I'm sure he would have had fascinating stories of his travels, and I always appreciated his opinions on current Canadian events. I'm sorry I didn't get to know the person he became.
My condolences go out to his family and loved ones.
Comments
I was shocked to read this in the paper yesterday. He was a truly lovely guy, especially at an age when not many of us were.
Sorry to have found your blog this way but happy to hear you're doing well.
Posted by: Duana at June 21, 2006 9:59 AM