Losing a long-time friend is tough...

[Chubbo]

Friends

John:
I am sorry for your loss of a "true Friend". That kind, is truly hard to find, but, one can accept their positive ending. It's is the easy to acquire friends, ones that you have done gratis work for. It's "Old friends", that you have shared friendships with, through good, and hard times, working times, hobby, times, pleasant times, and family members, that ether choose not to, or can't, due to Alzheimer's disease, or other mental disorder, remember you, that I really have trouble loosing, for what ever reason.

Chubbo

 

[M29since14]

"May his memory be a blessing." Words with both wisdom and good wishes, I'm sure. Worth repeating.

 

[Doug M.]

Beautiful tribute, and sure seems well earned.

 

[walkin jack]

My prayers and deepest condolences up for his friends and family and for you.

My best friend for the last 56 years and Icould soon be facing the very same situation. He turned 74 last December and I'll turn 74 later this month. Lately we joke about What we will do on each other's grave but we both are keenly aware of the eminent reality that looms before us.

Robert Duval said these words at a grave site in the movie, BROKEN TRAIL: "Sweet grass to hay, birth to death; we live between the eternities." That is pretty profound if you think about it, in my view. Almost poetic.

 

[kozmic]

Very kind words John. My condolences.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Beautifully and gently written. Bernie would be proud.

My condolences.

 

[vigil617]

Very moving, Paladin, and for some reason I read it today -- Father's Day -- the occasion of the death of one of my own best friends back in 2009. I first met Bob when we were in college, and our friendship continued until his untimely passing at age 54 from a diagnosed heart ailment for which he had not gotten around to getting treatment. He had given a Father's Day message at his church that morning, gone for a bike ride as he often did, and had a massive heart attack while he was out. Thinking of him and the wife and kids left behind brings tears even now, as he was one of the kindest, funniest, deepest, and most admirable people I have ever met. Like you said about your friend Bernie, I am privileged to have known him. I might not have thought about Bob today if I hadn't read your homage. Thank you for that, and my condolences to you on a loss that I can certainly empathize with.

 

[misswired]

My sympathies for your loss.

Standing with a group of young pallbearers at my best friends funeral one asked how long we had been friends. I told them a few stories and the length of our friendship when another stated wow, that's a long time. yeah...I don't have the years left to make new lifelong friend like that!

His wife and son asked me at the visitation if I was the one who placed the fishing rod and reel in his casket? Yep; along with hooks,leads, a bag of his favorite fishing worms and a pack of smokes(they were tucked behind him out of sight). They both said it was a nice touch that they hadn't thought about.

Leaving a friends funeral thirty years prior I'd asked him if I died first would he place a rod and reel in my casket? He said sure...Why?
"I don't want to get where I'm going and be without a fishing rod." We walked a little farther and he asked would you do the same for me?....

 

[jag312]

I know how you feel. It is hard to lose an old friend.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

A good friend like Bernie can not be replaced. As I age this becomes more evident . So are my old friends from WW2 & Korea. A good friend is like a treasure in a box. I still love my S&W's & always will.