I’ve known Chime and Uche for a while now. We all have. In fact, if it wasn’t for the Ogbuji family I doubt much XML would or even could have been much more than a passing fad. Fortunately, that’s not how things played out.

Every generation has their revolutions, and each revolution has their revolutionaries. Our generation has Chime and Uche, and to be quite honest, if that’s all our generation were to ever have, it would be more than enough. Our generation is one of the lucky ones. Sometimes that’s just the way things work. And that’s certainly how it worked out for us this go round.

This last May I finally had a chance to meet both of my long time friends at the Semantic Conference in San Jose. Have any of you ever had that sense — that feeling — that you knew you were in the presence of greatness? That’s the way I felt this last May when I was given the opportunity to hang out with Chime and Uche. All these years of admiration and correspondence, and yet never had I found myself in the same physical location and as such, never had I found myself with an opportunity to laugh and smile as much as I laughed and smiled for the two days and a night I was fortunate enough to spend with my two friends.

And this is coming from someone who takes significant pride in just how much he laughs and smiles. And I take that pride because sometimes the laughs and smiles are all that you have. And sometimes it feels like the only thing you have left are your friends and your family to help you remember just how many reasons you provide for them to laugh and smile.

And sometimes it doesn’t feel like you have any reason to laugh or smile at all.

And sometimes you just need to cry, because that’s the only thing you feel you have left inside of you to give.

And you’ve both given of yourselves to each and every one of us in ways we will never be able to repay you for. Thank you.

This last May, for two days, I was in the presence of greatness. Not everybody is given that opportunity. Not everyone is that lucky. But I was. And so were three beautiful little girls who will never be forgotten, and whom will forever remain in our hearts, and whom will forever be remembered in the way they chose to live their lives: As The Kingdom Kids, the daughters and nieces of two of the greatest friends that both myself and each and every one of us in the XML communities have been blessed with as a part of our lives.

To Roschele and Chime Ogbuji: There are no words, there are no expressions, there is nothing that can be given to you by myself, nor anyone else that would or even could even begin to provide comfort nor condolence for what you both have lost for the remainder of this lifetime. I am so very very sorry. You are both in my heart and in my prayers constantly. If nothing else, please know this.

Earlier this evening I was listening to Liz Frazer express the emotions she felt when she lost her very close and personal friend Jeff Buckley. I was immediately reminded of Imose, Chikaora, and Anyachiemeka. I hope it’s okay that I share this with you, track three off the Mezzanine album from Massive Attack.

mez·za·nine (mĕz’ə-nēn’, mĕz’ə-nēn’)
n.
1. A partial story between two main stories of a building.
2. The lowest balcony in a theater or the first few rows of that balcony.
3. An intermediary place of gathering.

To anyone else who chooses to listen to this this track: Please do so in the spirit in which was its original source for inspiration: An expression of both sadness for loved ones lost, and for hope of being given the strength to carry on.

* A special thank you to Dawn Frank, a close and personal friend of Uche and Lori Ogbuji, and someone in whom I am lucky enough to call a friend as well, who when confronted with my question as to what I could possibly say or do, encouraged me to express my feelings as they were. As such, these are my feelings.

My heart and prayers are with each and everyone of you.