April 2, 1996
My name is Tamara Sturtz, Rick's niece. The Dave who helped with the S16 project is my father (Rick's oldest brother).
Rick was, as you say, a Prince. I wrote email to him a couple times a week. He told me that he was going to go visit his friend in California and do something that even us mountain people couldn't do. He was going to snow ski in the morning then go sailing in the afternoon. I did not envy him, however, because at the time I was in Puerto Vallarta. When I came back he told me of his house hunting plans. I told him that the house across the street was for sale. He said part of him wanted to leave city life and become a mountain hermit. Rick referred to Colorado as the place where the air is thin and the water boils late. This amused me, as did most everything that he said.
This summer I was supposed to go visit Rick in Minneapolis. He was going to teach me how to make stained glass art, and we were going to roller blade around lakes and pick up girls. Well, he would up girls and I would pick up guys, we had to compromise there!
One of the things that caused me to be close to him is the love for music. I developed quite a love for the Beatles and so we always had something to talk about. John Lennon is my favorite and I will even go so far as to call him my hero!
This past Christmas Rick made me something that I will treasure as long as I live. He used the Neon John poster which hung in his room and made one for me out of stained glass. It is perfect! I have sent you a picture of it, you do not need to send it back because I have the real thing. On the top is written NEON JOHN and then as the bottom he wrote FOR TJ FROM RMS. I treasure it more than most things. There is also a copy of the letter he sent with it.
To explain the shine part, my nickname is Sunshine. This was shortened a long time ago to Shine. So Shine is my nick-nickname. Rick called me TJ (Tamara Jean), Teej, Shine, Tee Jay, and probably some other things which I can't remember right now.
Rick's guitar is currently in my possession and I have made a promise to myself, Rick and everyone that I will learn to play it as a tribute to him. I will write a song and my first album will be dedicated to RMS.
When Rico and Rick were here they slept in the room which I share with my three sisters. Rick pointed out that he had always wanted to sleep in the girls dorm in college. When I rode with Rick on the lift he would tell me stories of when he and my dad were kids, or we would debate Beatle topics. (in this house I am the authority on Beatles because I read a lot about them). Sometimes we would just gang up on Yoko Ono because we didn't like her very much. When I rode with Rico he taught me how to say. The Pen of my aunt is on the table, in French.
Rick told me about how he spent a lot of his college years doing time at Perrys Pizza, where he met Rico. I work at Little Ceasars Pizza, so he understood the feeling of going home smelling like pizza.
When my uncle Bob (Bobby pin) got married, I danced with Rick. Well actually I danced standing on his feet. At the same wedding Rick was bar tending and my older brother Matt was "helping". Rick put a cup on the counter which said "Matt's college fund". You have to understand that Matt was only eight or nine, I think I was about seven.
When we went house boating last summer I spent a lot of time with Rick. We went to Rainy Lake in my Dad's camper and on the way we listened to Beatle tunes. Then one of the tires on the camper blew up. It was very exciting to watch four Sturtz males try to change the tire. (Dave, John, Rick and Matt) They did finally get it done.
On the lake I canoed with Rick a lot. It was fun going into really shallow places. It was nice to know that we could go places where Matt, in the fishing boat, couldn't. It was also nice to know that if we should happen to get stuck anywhere, Rick was there to get us out. I will miss him!
Once when we were visiting my grandparents I was watching T.V. and Rick sat down beside me. He moved my knee cap and said "Ahhh! it moves!". This startled me and I asked what was wrong with me. He then proceeded to tell me that I was perfectly normal. I play with my kneecaps now for some reason.
It was somewhat of a joke in our letters that I was going to be a writer and become rich and famous so that I could support him in his old age. I would dedicate my first book to him. I sent many stories and poems to him so that he could tell me what he thought.
Rick told me many things about Paul Goodnature. When he wrote about him he added: (Who your father will remember as a cool guy). I was hoping to meet Mr. Goodnature when we were in Albert Lea recently but I did not get the chance because he was not there.
I love what we are doing! I know that it helps me to read about Rick and it also helps to write about him. I think this is the way Rick would want us to remember him! It is also nice to know of times when my good uncle cut class. Rick is definitely an inspiration to me since I am at the height of my school hating. I only have one more year to go.
Thank you,
(signature)
Tamara J. Sturtz
P.S. You can send me an email letter. I wanted to send all of this at once. Tamshine@aol.com. It will take me a while to get used to not checking my mail everyday, so I will write back soon.
