Lost a friend

[fisheralum]

I still sometimes lurk here. Just contemplating some things. Got an e-mail today from an old high school friend about the passing of another, one of my earliest and best friends. I didn't even know he was sick. I'm told he had been living life to its fullest, even while dealing with various treatments for over a year. He was admitted to the hospital for less than a week, in the final stages of liver and pancreatic cancer. Just realized I probably hadn't communicated with Doug in five years or so. It always seemed to me like I was the one always making the most effort to stay in touch anyway. One time while I was living in Florida, he and Nancy let me know they would be in Boco Ratan. But I couldn't swing the trip from Orlando because of work probably. He was a busy attorney and part owner of the AAA baseball team in Syracuse N.Y., and I was busy with my career and raising a family in Florida or Texas. And most recently with my separation, divorce, financial challenges, and legal crap that has come with the whole mess. Doug was a lawyer. Why didn't I call him? Embarrassment probably. We did go to a Rochester Red Wings game together the last time I was up there. When we would visit, it seemed like no time had elapsed. We met as sixth graders. We'd catch frogs, ride our bikes to the sandlot to play baseball. There were no adults supervising back then. We settled our arguments the old fashioned way. I remember he had an egg route, like some kids have a paper route. And he was allegic to eggs. Always thought that was weird. One of the guys in the neighborhood had the only swimming pool around. We'd show up in our bathing suits and ask him what he wanted to do. Later basketball became our passsion. Then girls. One time he decided to park his car and make out with some chick in my driveway. Somehow she managed to lean on the horn and woke us all up. I think my folks just figured it was someone playing a prank. He later told me it scared him to death. Doug was always the good kid, you know, as far as anyone knew. We got drunk together more than once. He went to Hamilton College and then U.of B. for law school. I would go visit him. One time we went to Grossingers together for a communications seminar event during our college days. We were going from different schools, but drove together in Doug's Ford Mavrick. I think I've only realized again quite recently how important it is to have true friends. We're born alone, die alone, and it's only friends, family, and love that help us believe we are not alone. And a belief in God. Doug would have been 50 on June 28th. How in the world is it I can remember what his birthday was?

[mead107]

sorry to hear that

[John from Riverside]

I am sorry to hear about this as well....

 

I have been doing quite a lot of reflecting on my own life of late....and so I really can feel your pain.

 

I myself have been waking up this last couple of weeks just absolutely sick and tired of the way my life is going.

 

Dont get me wrong I am not suicidal no actually just the opposite. I have a great family but as I sit here at 35 years old I wonder what the $*%&* I am doing with my life....I commute to work (sometimes as long as 1 1/2 hours one way to a job that really doens't get me ahead in life at all and I try to spend quality time with my family when I can. There are days when I roll out of bed and just want to call in, keep the kids home, and take a road trip to the beach...but wait....cant do that. Kids have to keep their grades up, important stuff going on at work, and the wife (who is a blackjack dealer at a casino) has to make sure she is at work as well.

 

I would like nothing better then to for about a month.....not have to worry about responsibilities and just go out and have a ton of fun and get to know my family again which is getting older and older every time I get home from work in the evening....my son who was once a cute little boy is now a bonified man (fricken 14 years old and has muscule all over the place...he is gonna be a athletic freak....my daughter who was my precious mouse is now turning into a young lady and growing "all over the place" and my wonderful wife is just as beutiful as she ever was.

 

We recently learned that my wife might be eligible for some indian compensation (she is decendent from Arizona White Mountain Apache) and they have all kinds of thing going for them......my brother in law has been half @ssing looking into it but I am thinking about picking up the guantlet and getting my wife eligible.....would be shocked how much money certain indian heretage decendents can get monthly. More then enough for me to quit this fricken job and go back to school.

[stuckincincy]

I still sometimes lurk here.  Just contemplating some things.  Got an e-mail today from an old high school friend about the passing of another, one of my earliest and best friends.

693183[/snapback]

 

I'm sorry for his untimely death. God will bless.

 

One just wants to gather the memories in one's arms, all of them and at once, to savor them anew.

 

With any death, there are always regrets - things unsaid, time passed by when action could have happened.

 

We are all there.

 

Hold your good friend in memory. Shortly, a smile when a situation reminiscent occurs that recalls when you both were there, will happen.

 

Grieve long...this putting things past and seeking closure is an odd thing, in huge opposition to how people are when loss occurs.

 

But make sure not to let grief be mis-applied. It is to be for the untimely passing of your friend, his time here that was lessened. Lament your loss of his companionship, but lament more his early demise and his dreams cut short.

 

Those that pass on, can live in our hearts. Keep your friend there. Always.

[Golden Wheels]

Sorry for your loss fisheralum. I think we should all take the opportunity to tell others how much they mean to us when we have the chance.

[Guffalo]

Remember the good times, focus on the best moments together, realize that your buddy isnt far, just around the corner.

[Wacka]

I'm down today too.

In my hobby of gepocaching, one of the local people died in a motorcycle accident last night. I had only met the woman twice at get-togethers, but she was excited about the hobby and peopele who had geocached with her said she was a lot of fun to be around.

She was organizing a picnic to be held Sunday. It looks like the picnic will go on and become a memorial to her. Her boyfriend said that she was doing what she enjoyed, geocaching and riding her cycle, just before she died.

Eyewinesses said she unexplainedly lost control, slid under the rear wheels of a dump truck and was killed instantly.

She was only 3 years yonger than me and it reminded me that you can go at any time.

[GoodBye]

I'm sorry to hear about your friend.

[cantankerous]

God Bless you and your friend...may he rest in peace. I recently lost a friend too, I know it's hard but you will get through it.

[MadBuffaloDisease]

Sorry to hear about your loss. Pancreatic cancer is nasty.

 

But one thing. While you are the one who is born and who dies, you're not alone when you're born, and if you're not alone when you die, you've done something right.