I found myself arrested this evening to learn of the passing of a distant but steady friend, Archaeopteryx. He proved himself a reliable companion and support to many of us fledgling deconverts, hobbling as we must from our personal wreckage toward the daylight. Not a god, but in many of our lives, he could almost seem omnipresent, ever ready to comment on anything you posted. I feel that I owe him a debt, and in partings without goodbyes, the ledgers go unreconciled.
I cannot help but think of Hitchens, who said that he didn’t fear death, because there was nothing to fear in it. Rather, he feared the waste and sordid decline of dying. Honest, as ever, regarding the truth of that final fear.
I’ll miss Arch. I’ll miss his reliable wit, there every time I post something. I also think, when one day I finish writing my bloody book, I’ll miss him reading it. I think maybe the best I can manage is a Hitch farewell, spelled in Johnny Walker Black. My eyes may not be dry, but there will be no blubbering fictions about a better place. Instead, I can say that I do find consolation that Arch has passed now, beyond the spectre and the reach of that final fear.
Jericho Brisance 
This is so sad. I didn’t know him and only had those few interactions with him after one of your posts a while back, but I was touched at how quickly he reached out and how welcoming he was. So sorry to hear this news. Wishing you guys and his family all the best. ❤️
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Wow, he was just an amazing encouragement to me personally when I first began expressing deconversion pain on your blog 2.5 yrs ago. I do share in pain his passing.
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I know, right? Damn. Just, damn.
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Matt, that was a touching tribute to Arch. Sigh.
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This is sad indeed. I reread my discussions with Archaeopteryx under my posts. Most enjoyable conversations. What happened, if I may?
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The word I got was that it was lung cancer. He kept it undisclosed more or less.
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I’ll miss him… Thanks for the post.
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You express the feeling many of us have.
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Nicely said, Matt.
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Thanks John
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As I’ve stated elsewhere … he will most definitely be missed. 😦
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Yes, yes he will
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