This has been a rough year, and it’s still a few months away from being done. I know I owe all of you a Post AWA blog, but that will simply have to drop off.

Tuesday morning at 4 am a very special man in my life journeyed to the next. Justin Rollins was a high school friend, and was one of the members of my very first gaming group. My memories constantly flood back to weekend nights crowded around our GM’s coffee table, nachos or fast food in our hands. He came up with the most creative use for Summon Creature: summoning a sperm whale a couple of dozen feet directly over a red dragon. He created several of the most memorable D&D characters I ever campaigned beside, especially Victorious the water mage.

So many memories. Fireworks in the yard, squeezing into a pickup’s cab, a whirlpool in the center of the hotel pool at AKon, traveling to Schlitterbahn. The stories I can tell of him are innumerable, his affect on my life indescribable. I have difficulty in expressing my feelings on him, he was simply a large part of my life for a long time.

He had that effect on practically anyone who knew him–Justin had a knack for showing the world exactly what he was without shame or slightest insincerity. Thus, to meet him was to know him, to spend time around him was to have a connection with him. For a time, my connection was a bit deeper, and for that I am exceedingly grateful. To be the twinkle in his eye, even for as brief a time as it was, was a joy I grasped only when I allowed it to slide. Even though it didn’t become deeper or last, the time with him was beautiful.

What many knew of him as was the heart of Shining Finger Studios, a group of friends connected by their love of anime and music video compilation. He was their founder, and their best editor with the largest number of videos under his belt. He won the team many an award (most of them for hentai videos), including this year’s Best in Show at AKon’s amv competition. Under his direction, some of their most popular videos had his name in the credits–Including submissions for the AMV Hell series, A Very Bootyful Christmas, Azumanga Die-Oh, and The AMV Before Halloween. (Google or Youtube those, fer serious.)

He created magic. His presence created calm, brought many together, and his heart overflowed with generosity and humble kindness. These are treasures I hope I can carry on in his memory, and ones anyone who ever knew him should take to heart.

Today’s Clockwork Cavatina is a piece dedicated to “Roll the Stampede,” based on Justin’s Shining Finger and net avatar.

He’s not leaving us behind, just traveling ahead. We’re all headed to the same place, after all.

Love and Peace-Out, man. I miss you already.

~JL Jones