Drew's Hospital Scrapbook

Something that I've been wanting to share for a while...the scrapbook we all helped put together, as Drew wanted, from about the 2nd day of being in the hospital, to document his experience with his camera. It took the doctors and nurses by surprise at first, but as they got to know Drew they quickly became more comfortable in front of the camera! These pictures are invaluable.

Speaking of Berlin...

A couple Drewish videos. Hear a little voice, see a little smile... Maybe the boys can tell some stories behind these videos and their trip to Berlin.

Good times.

Mad and Mike's wedding in the pool hall.

Art opening

Dinner party in Brooklyn


Bucket of Beers in Tijuana

BBQ at Eric's place in LA

Thinking about Drew a lot this week! Of course because of his birthday. But other stuff too:
I pulled out my oldtimey 35mm camera and some notes I had written down about film stocks he recommended to me.
I recently experienced a new high with some excellent mexican hot sauce.
There's a grilled meat restaurant in my neighborhood that the mere mention of sends me drooling.
Planning a snowboard trip in the spring.
All these little things bring Drew to mind.
That's how it is. He's always around.
And I miss him so much.

NINA, JENN & DREW...one ny visit

Nina and I here...looking through pictures. These were a couple of her fav's.

Nina says "We spent last night sharing drew stories and it was his bday. I especially love hearing about drew when he was a kid. We had a wonderful night and i asked Hana to write these stories down for me to read always."

p.s. my dad was a silly kid. ha ha ha.

I LOVE YOU DAD

The Perfect Bite

it wasn't until i was about 26 that i was able to appropriately share drew's love for all things food. we spent our childhood as food opposites...drew tried everything, i ate chicken fingers and chocolate chip ice cream.

he was thrilled when my taste buds finally developed. since then we spent many of our moments sharing what we called 'the perfect bite'. this often included the careful layering, toasting, sprinkling, or spreading of ingredients we were sure was the ideal combination to warrant such a title. we'd trade tastings back and forth...no matter the hunger time was not a factor...he say "wait jenn, you've got to try this bite...hold on i'll make you one."

this pic is from my 30th? bday...another great party at amiees apt in bushwick.
a perfect cheese cracker bite i just knew he had to have.

happy bday drew...

Mazal Tov, Drew מזל טוב דרור

This is my first time posting on this blog; while having followed it throughout its existence, I did most of my mourning and reflection in private. Today, on Drew's birthday, the following Instant Messaging session with Jenn inspired me to share how Drew's talent inspired (no time for thesaurus) me:

The first quality time I got to spend with Drew as an adult was in 2005 in Israel. While the main event of that summer was Orie's Bar Mitzva, Drew and Eric also set on a personal documentary(/mockumentary) tour of the country; Eric with an oversized first generation mini-DV, and Drew with the manual film camera—not that I had the slightest idea why or how to appreciate this oldschoolness back then. Throughout the summer, I joined the 2—along with Jenn—on every expedition I was available for. That summer illustrated a fundamental mathematical equation that forever holds: ∂rew = 1 - photography (had to play with the algebra, otherwise it'd sound too corny). While—looking back at it—I was not yet able to appreciate the true art in Drew's gift, I immensely admired his talent, dedication, and PASSION. God, he had passion... what else could possibly drive a man to do a photo shoot while hooked up to a bag of chemo?

Many summers have passed since, and with them our beloved Drew. This past May, when I had saved up enough money to get a camera, I initially went out and got what the typical consumer would get–an ultra-compact camera "to carry around anywhere"---------------------------------------------->

After a few days with the camera, some internal drive—which, retrospectively, I've increasingly attributed to Drew—was telling me to get a "real" camera and see what I can do with it. So I returned the sub-compact, dug out of the last pennies form my college-student pockets and got myself a Nikon D60, along with a fashionable carrying case so I would "take the camera everywhere I would take a sub-compact"------->

I skipped the free Ritz Camera courses I got with the purchase and got a couple of books from the library instead; one that taught me the technical basics in 15-20 minutes, and another with brilliant photos and descriptions of their styles. ~6 months later, I CONSTANTLY tell myself, as well as others how I wish I had discovered photography while Drew was still here; WOW, the possibilities...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DREW! I think of you every time that shutter snaps bringing a bit of you in each of these:

Love you always; your cousin, Leeron

[Chronologically ordered from June up until the picture I sent Jenn, which was taken last night]

Happy Birthday Drew.....Love Shannon, Camille & Dr Zaius

November 4th Drew's Birthday

Big day for election and Drew's birthday, Jenn, Julia, Nina and I will have a quiet dinner to celebrate his life. I wonder if Drew was here, who he would have voted for.
Happy Birthday Drew, you are gone but not far from our hearts and thoughts.

well are all thinking and love you drew

love

We MISS YOU

More Papa Drew

Happy father's day, papa drew.

I picked nina up from school, june 9th, we were going to spend the afternoon with Justin (drew's cousin). Justin was getting ready for her prom.

As i got there, i noticed that nina was upset, there was a little mix up with who was picking her up. The teachers called her back as she was running to that person. I tried to explain to her why it is so important, to the school, that the right person picks her up and what can happen if it was the wrong person.

Sweet nina told me, as i was going into graphic detail about what can happen, "don't talk about it, it scares me and gives me nightmares." "Don't be scared, there is a little angel that sits on your shoulder, your dad, and he is always watching over you" I told her.

She calmed down and we drove to LI and met up with Justin and her mom, aunt Eliza. We went to the hair dresser and watched as Justin got her hair done.

Next it was the makeup artist's turn. Justin says she is psychic. As Justin sat in her chair, before she started applying the makeup, she saw her looking around as if she was looking at someone. She then turned to Justin and said, with nina sitting next to her, "there is a spirit here, i can feel it and it is a male. You are connected to this male, she told Justin, but he is very important to that little girl and she is important to him. He is watching and smiling, he is very happy that you are spending time together."

I hadn't been there at that time and Justin told us about it later when we were in the car. As she was relaying the story to me i was sitting next to nina in the back. Nina looked up at me smiled and said "see that was dad." I smiled back at her and said "he is with you where ever you are..........."

October 10 2005

Good Times.....

drew & nina & stella

Drew waiting for camille to hook up playstation...

8-6-06

Drew and Nina came over...Drew used to work on his website. Nina is dancing on the bed while drews working away. Nina and I would do artwork. Oh, of course - I had to put this pic...in of Drews socks...

Nice Socks!!!

Just found this sweet shot.

JENKINS BEACH 2007

HERE WE ARE TRYING TO DREW IT UP AT JENKINS BEACH THIS PAST SUMMER. AND I HAVE TO SAY WE DID IT PRETTY WELL. BURGERS, RELISH, FISH FRY, THE BOAT!, AND GOOD OLD RELAXING AT JOE BEACH. SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. AND SOMEWHERE DREW LOVED--NICE AND QUITE AND OUT OF THE WAY. JUST A TRAILER AND THE WATER...WE WENT ON VACATION HERE FOUR TIMES WITH DREW AND THIS LAST TIME IN HONOR OF. IT WAS GREAT AND WE WILL ALWAYS BE BACK!

NINA'S PINK BALLOON

Monday December 10th, 2007 we came together to mark Drew's year. We brought flowers and white balloons. Each of us wrote messages to drew. Nina had a special pink balloon so that Drew would know, when he saw it, that it was from her.

They say that within the first year of someone's passing, the soul is floating between here and heaven and after the year they are there...........

REST IN PEACE DREW, YOU WILL FOREVER BE IN OUR HEARTS. X

Want you all to know I am now able to post!!!!

Eric Rasmussen here, now fully activated, very exciting, I can now post my thoughts as they come to me....it has been a year now since Drew's passing and I just wanted to say that there have been a few things this year which I know Drew would be so proud of....when we first drove past the "Old Stop 'n Fight" (an old, closed down bar in Topanga) we were looking for a location to shoot some pics of my band. He didn't say anything cause he wanted to see what I would show him first. But after looking at the spot I thought was good, he said, let's go back, I saw something back there.
We pulled up in front of the place and I laughed because it was such a well known place in it's day and I couldn't believe I hadn't thought of it as a location, beautiful as it was....he framed it up from across the highway, dangerously close to traffic, and was sure he could get the shot. So we went up to the door of the house behind, where the crazy lady lived, and asked her if we could take a picture of the bar.
She said we could do whatever we wanted....guess she wasn't so crazy after all, she acted kind of normal, so we set up the shoot for a few days later.
When we came back there was a crew in front of the bar installing a chain link fence, effectively ruining our shot, and it was never taken. But this was the place Drew liked best for that pic.

As it turned out, the fence was a portent of things to come....the place was put up for sale. I had in fact thought many times about buying it before, and I purchased the property last year, before Drew's death. Just recently I was finally able to get the place into some kind of party shape and throw a party there, complete with my own beer on tap as if I had my own bar. I couldn't help it, I almost cried while onstage when I told everyone there about Drew. He would have been so proud and happy to see this moment, and I guess he still is, wherever he is....

I am still working on finishing the songs which I have begun to write about Drew, I think it takes some real time and distance to get it out properly.

I wanted you all to see this image as well, which was the dedication of our album to Drew, which he sadly did not live to see the completion of either. But he and I were musical brethren, he was probably the biggest encouragement for my music in my life and I miss him all the time for all sorts of reasons. Unfortunately the image is too big and I don't have the software to re-size it but I will get it up here next time, keep an eye out ok?

Thank you all for continuing to post and show your love for this man. I can feel it when I come here, how strong it is and how we share this bond of the loss of this dear friend.

Love you Julia, Nina, Jenny, and Hanna, have a good new year, it was great to see you all at our "Drew commemorative Pho dinner" here in LA, and I wish you all peace and blessings in the coming year.

Drew and Me on a Tony Hawk Marathon

i remember this morning. I just called in sick to work. Me and Drew had to get past this one level. We been playing it all night long and were so close to it. I called in sick alot with playstation marathons with drew....of course, camille woke up for work..and took our pictures..as we were in the same place holding a bud....and the playstation controllers....

june 27 2006