Christopher Ringwald, R.I.P

An old friend, a former newspaper colleague, apparently took his life this morning in Albany, N.Y. Chris Ringwald was a husband, father of three, author of three books, editor of his diocesan newspaper. We used to talk about John Berryman’s “Eleven Addresses to the Lord”:

“Forsake me not when my wild hours come;
grant me sleep nightly, grace soften my dreams;
achieve in me patience till the thing be done,
a careful view of my achievement come.

“Make me from time to time the gift of the shoulder.
When all hurt nerves whine shut away the whiskey.
Empty my heart toward Thee.
Let me pace without fear the common path of death.”

Go here to see Chris Ringwald's obituary.