Personal Tribute to Matthew Perry
The one where we lost a friend
It’s suffice to say I am not the only one mourning the loss of a man I’ve never met. Just like a lot of people out there who connected through Matthew’s craft, this one over here did the same during her night shifts. When I read the news of his passing, I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t want to. And, for the next 24 hours, I couldn’t get the man out of my head. It oddly made me think of my father who had passed in December of 2020. Both of their faces in my head made me unsettled.
Fortunately, I had a wonderful relationship with my father. The man could have given me the moon if I had just asked. And, Matthew, through his F.R.I.E.N.D.S character Chandler Bing made me smile every time I was lonely. As the night would set, my anxiety would increase hour by hour and the world would slowly go to sleep, leaving me awake and alone. So, Chandler along with his friends would grace my screens and would make me feel better with a smile on my face. The restlessness after his passing made me realize, that both of these men are gone forever. It’s like my brain is unable to accept or understand this concept of death.
I have a lot of pictures of my father but not a video with his voice in it and that’s my only regret. So, learn from mistakes and make videos of your loved ones. Capture their voice, their laughter, their smile; you’ll be grateful for it.
Below is a little poem I have written to honour Matthew Perry.
When I was younger, my school would make all the students and staff seek one-minute silence on tragic occasions to honour the fallen. At the age of 9, I never understood the gravity of it, the intensity of it, and the peace of it. When my father passed, I didn’t know I wanted something like that until after a couple days. Imagine the strength and the power of this one-minute practice if my entire school were to stand with me, for the fallen of my household. The solidarity alone would have helped 3 years ago. The kid in me still wants it. And, I want that for Matthew Perry as well. Just stopping for one minute, acknowledging the wonderful soul. Matthew wanted to be remembered as someone who helped people, and he did. He saved my mental health more times than I can count and I can say with certainty that a thousand more people will stand with me to say the same. He made me laugh when I couldn’t reach out to anybody and he did that over and over again. I hope he is at peace knowing the same.
Goodbye, Matthew.
The world will miss you.