River Phoenix’s mother remembers late son on his birthday: “He is very much alive in me”

nme.com:

Instagram post.The caption accompanied a photo with the timestamp ’88, which shows a teenage River with a guitar strapped over his shoulder.“Just as he tried to do with most people, River Jude embraced each of his siblings (who entered through the same portal after him) with his humor, wisdom, authenticity, talent, compassion, vulnerability and undying Love.”A post shared by Heart Phoenix (@heartsphoenix)She continued: “I would say he was and still is our greatest teacher.“The greatest pain I experienced in my life was the pain of natural childbirth and even tho quite different, the pain of my son’s passing.”She added that, “almost instantaneously” with both occasions, the “gifts that he brought were imbued in each of us and so we carry on celebrating his life for those 23 precious years”.Heart went on to say that there are “no guarantees in life” and that she didn’t believe anyone was promised that they’d be free of tragedy throughout their lifetime.“I count it one of the greatest blessings by living in the moment and drawing upon inner knowing as a sacred pathway to navigate through life’s many challenges,” she continued. “River’s life and death taught me that, in no uncertain terms.

I am in awe of the fact that he is very much alive in me. Thank you for all the precious messages that I have received through these past 30 years.”River was known for his role in Rob Reiner’s 1986 film Stand By Me.