A Letter to Rich on the Moon

I made the decision to go back through WhatsApp and play some of the voicenotes you'd sent me last night. It's been 12 months since we lost you, and I haven't been able to bring myself to hear the sound of your voice even once in all that time. I assumed that they were going to break me in two but oh my GOD, there's no way anyone could listen to those and feel sad. 

One of the notes was a good two minutes long (the longest voicenote you've ever left) and it ended with "Christ I hate these things, I feel like a f*cking failed radio DJ". Another one was sending me off on holiday with a "See you on the other side" just a week before you passed. Surreal. 

Its been 12 months and you are EVERYWHERE still. I often join a Teams call to see someone looking back at me wearing their #WWRD hoodie. A couple of weeks ago we flashed your lovely face up on a slide at Microsoft HQ to talk about you and to fundraise for the British Heart Foundation. Every time I have Marmite on toast I smile. You are EVERYWHERE. 

In the Summer of last year we spent a few days in Dublin visiting some partners. We sat in the hotel bar and you told me about the Japanese folklore story of the rabbit on the moon. I didn't think about it much until you were gone and then it seemed to hit me like a freight train. You were the very definition of the rabbit on the moon. You would have thrown yourself into the fire to help any of us, you were the kindest man I've ever met. I'm now the proud of owner of a rabbit on the moon tattoo & necklace and they really make me smile. Its my kids' favourite bedtime story. 

I wanted to share the Rabbit on the Moon with you all because tonight just happens to be a supermoon night, and its the biggest moon of 2025. Strange coincidence? Nope. I think you just want to remind us all that you're here. I'll be looking for you on the moon tonight. 

Sleep well Shippers xx