I have Had a Rough Day

[GB]

I found out this afternoon that a friend of over 30 years, crossed the river, last night. I met Garry not long after I moved here, in the late 80s. We had things in common. Reading, photography, guns (He didn't own any, but had had an extensive collection prior to a divorce on the early 80s).At any rate we became friends. Over the years we spent time together and made a few road trips. We did favors for each other and took each other to the Dr. when it was what one of us needed. He was almost all you could ask for in a friend and ONE big thing extra: He put up with me! I am not the easiest person to be friends with!

A little over a year ago he started to have problems urinating (as many of us do later in life). He was in his late 60s.Went to a specialist to get tuned up but things didn't go as well as hoped and ended up at another doctor and eventually with the word that he had prostate cancer. He chose to go the Chemo route. So for the last year I (and his sister) have been taking him to treatments and other Dr. appointments. Things were looking OK until about 6 weeks or so and then things started South. Last week (on Wed.) his Dr. gave him the word. 3 or 4 months. Set him up on a hospice plan and sent him home. That night we talked and started to make a few plans. He was feeling upbeat and while not cheerful, in a good mood. On Thur. night he was not feeling well. On Sat. I could tell he was fading. No answer on Sat. or Sunday. Today I called and his BIL answered and told me of his passing between midnight and 3 am last night.

Garry and I had similar feeling on life and death. None of us are getting out of here alive. And death is not the end but just the start of the next part of the journey. So, for the most part, I am happy that my friend is not hurting anymore and his started the next part of the adventure. On the other hand, I have lost my friend, and I don't have any to spare.

Sorry for the long sad story but I needed to get some of the grief out so I can start to move on. Thanks

 

[Rustyt1953]

I'm terribly sorry for the loss of one so close to you. I, like you, believe you will see him again. In the meantime all we can do is fill those holes in our hearts with happy memories.

 

[LVSteve]

Sorry for the loss of your friend.

I know it is small comfort, but from the experiences in my family, his slipping away so quickly may have saved him a great deal of suffering. RIP.

 

[Krogen]

It's wonderful you had such a good friend, GB. Sadly that means his death hurts to your core. You lost a part of you. Feel the pain now. It will lessen with time. The good memories will always remain.

 

[sureshotbob]

I'm sorry for your loss of your friend he is noy suffering anymore .

 

[ACORN]

Sorry for your loss.

 

[coachray]

I too am sorry for the loss of your friend, but at least he's no longer in pain. Stay strong.

 

[Cdog]

Two of my best friends from high school passed away within the last year. The three of us rode to school together. One was my best man at my first wedding.

Less than two weeks ago I served as a pallbearer for a brother outlaw (we married sisters) he had fallen a day or so before and recently been diagnosed with early onset dementia. He was 70.

Their pain and worries are gone. Alongside your friend they live on in our memories.

 

[brucev]

There is no good way for a good friend to die. Cancer is one of the hardest. May God grant you his grace and mercy as you grieve the loss of your good friend. Sincerely. bruce.

 

[Greyman50]

Sorry for the loss of your friend. Condolences to his family, may he RIP.
Having lost a good friend and two in our gun club this year, I and most likely many know how you feel. Remember the good times as those count.

 

[Old cop]

Condolences, I know how tough this is. I lost a close friend from our 1968 police academy to Covid recently & it hit me like a ton of bricks.

 

[llowry61]

Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this difficult time. You will see him again, in time.

 

[quikdraw67]

Condolences for your loss.

 

[jeffrefrig]

So sorry for your loss. And, LVSteve pretty much said it all; I've nothing to add.

 

[yeti]

So sorry to hear about your good friend, GB. Thankful that his suffering was not prolonged, as is sometimes the case with end stage cancer. Condolences.

Sounds to me like you were a great friend to him and he to you.

 

[TX-Dennis]

Sorry for your loss. I shall pray for all involved.

 

[Doug627]

We have a lot of acquaintances but very few friends. I'm sorry to hear of the loss of Garry.

 

[jdlii]

My personal experience has been that I learn, over time, how to live with the loss of that friend or relative. Remembering the good times with them and talking about those good times with others who knew them, provides them with the closest thing to immortality that we can provide. Paying homage to their memory is, in my opinion, a tribute to them.

 

[JohnRippert]

Very sorry for your loss. I lost my brother by another mother in 2016 after 30+ years of being my best friend. Like yours, Mark accepted me as I was and was always there when I needed him. It makes a hole in your heart that never gets filled but you are not alone in how you feel.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Sorry for your loss. I have had many great friends over the years most are gone now. Airplane crashes, Huntlngton's disease, Human Mad cow Disease (it is in our genes now, you do not have to eat tainted meat), numerous cancers, numerous heart attacks (one at age 39 another at 43), botched open heart surgery, a self-inflicted gunshot to the head (back when we were 21 a friends "life long" girlfriend and fiance took off with a particularly hated rival), and a smattering of car wrecks (one was a Marine helicopter pilot that had survived several chopper crashes in the Mediterranean, but died in a car wreck a block from his house a month before his first child was born) . Perhaps my closest remaining friend is potentially going to be officially diagnosed soon with oncoming ALS early in the New Year. I pray that it is not so. We are going to the Cotton Bowl for what could be the last road trip. Even with your own ailments nipping at you, you start to feel like Paul Edgecomb at the end of the "Green Mile". Peace be with all here.