Thank you, Leslie Harpold.
I met Leslie Harpold six years ago when a large cardboard box showed up unexpectedly at my door. Inside was a large 32 gallon stainless steel trash can that I'd added to my Amazon wish list a few weeks before on a whim.
The gift note inside said (...and I'm paraphrasing) "I wanted to meet the sort of freak who'd put a 32 gallon stainless steel trash can on his wish list. —Leslie Harpold"
Today I got a phone call that Leslie had passed away.
In between those two events we spent a couple of great Thanksgivings together; we got to live in the same city for a few years; we got angry at each other a couple of times, as friends are prone to do; we gave each other design advice, and life advice; drank and ate together; went whale watching together; mourned the passing of Joe Strummer and Johnny Cash together; and she was a great friend to my son Henry.
Her annual Advent Calendar, the last one which she leaves unfinished, was a testament to her optimism for a better world, and a reminder that such a world was and IS within our reach.
As a designer I admired and respected her; as a friend I loved her and as a force of nature I feared her.
During her short amount of time with us she touched an incredible amount of lives and inspired others to live their lives as honestly and decently as she did. We're all better for having know her, and I'd like to thank her family for having shared her with us.
Written by Mike Monteiro on December 11, 2006 | 
2 comments so far. Add yours below.
Andrea Kremer says:
I share each and every one of these sentiments. I met Leslie on the internet in late 2003, and we became fast friends. We were working on a project together this year that will now also have to remain unfinished. I can't believe this has happened. Thank you for posting this, it does my heart good to read it and know that I'm not alone as I feel right now.
December 11, 2006 11:34 PM
Roberta says:
How can this be? It is so very very sad. I didn't know Leslie but I looked forward to her calendars each year. My condolences to her friends and family.
December 12, 2006 6:37 PM