Rick

Have you ever felt like you were meant for something greater?

I’ve been getting pounded with success lately and tbh, in times like this, it’s hard to not feel undeserving. It’s hard to NOT feel guilty.

I’ve known for a long time that I wanted to do something more important with my work. Something beyond just drawing cool stuff for people that were willing to buy it.

Then I get crushed by news like this.

A friendship, 30 years deep, soon to evaporate because cancer just doesn’t give AF.

Rick and I go way back. Originally rivals because of our mutual passion for Street Fighter 2 at a nearby convenient store, and soon friends when we coincidentally shared our first jobs at a local movie theater.

We stayed in touch through it all. Relationships, work, careers, passions, kids, moves, marriage.

He was in my wedding. He took the engagement photos of me and my wife. We would get to connect when I would come to town for conventions. We’re talking real deal friendship.

I got some rough but optimistic news back in June that he had been diagnosed with skin cancer on his knee. They thought they caught it in time before it had spread.

They hadn’t.

And in early October, I heard from his partner Summer that the worst was coming.

Months maybe, weeks more likely.

And just like that… 😮‍💨

The burden has become overwhelming. Family has been helping but Summer’s dedication to spending her precious remaining moments with Rick means finances are getting tight.

And my guilt became purpose.

I’m lucky enough to have these skills, and this audience, and my hope is that together, YOU and I can do something bigger and more important.

Let’s give these two a little breathing room to enjoy their remaining time together.

I’m hoping this proves that this platform is capable of being bigger than the selfish engine it seems to cater to.

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