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Twelve years ago plus one day I sat down to take my morning stroll through the blogs. There were only two back then - Neptunus Lex and the US Naval Institute blog.
Opening Lex's site, I sat there, muttering, "Oh no, what is this ..?"
What I saw was an Open Thread, written by Whisper. This ...
Whisper: Open Thread
By Whisper, on March 7th, 2012
When Lex “left the keys in it” for me to be a guest blogger here about a year ago, we didn’t discuss what to do in this occasion. I am at a loss. I did feel the need to provide one place for your tributes and condolences to collect. So here it is.
As Lex would say, talk amongst yourselves.
Very Respectfully,
Whisper
By Whisper, on March 7th, 2012
When Lex “left the keys in it” for me to be a guest blogger here about a year ago, we didn’t discuss what to do in this occasion. I am at a loss. I did feel the need to provide one place for your tributes and condolences to collect. So here it is.
As Lex would say, talk amongst yourselves.
Very Respectfully,
Whisper
That post from Neptunus Lex was twelve years ago, you can read the archived version again here. Thousands of comments were left on his blog that woeful day.
It doesn't hurt as much as it used to, but it still hurts.
From December to early March can be a rather dark time for me, if I dwell on things. So I don't. But there are days when too many memories flood in and I have to sit down, stare into the distance, and take a deep breath. Then I can get up and drive on.
Outside of the Air Force, four men had a pretty deep influence on me ...
Dad, well, he was my Dad. A good one at that.
Lex inspired me to write.
Buck made me a better writer.
I miss them all.
A lot.
Buck died in December, 2014.
Lex died in March, 2012.
Dad died in February, 2010.
Fred died in January, 2008.
Their memories live on, in me, and in others.
Be well, tell your loved ones that you love them.
You may not get another chance.
And to those four gentlemen above, thanks. For everything.
Peace.
Always remembered.
ReplyDeleteForever.
DeleteWell said Sarge.
ReplyDeleteThanks, brother.
DeleteIt's not how much you say, but what. Well done.
ReplyDeleteThanks, htom.
DeleteAs long as we remember and say their names, they will never die. (((Hugs)
ReplyDeleteAmen. May their memories be forever green.
DeleteTimely, Sarge. Got word last night my high school band director, one of the two most influential teachers educationally and personally during that time, passed away yesterday. God bless such men as you have described, and peace be upon them all.
ReplyDeleteCondolences, TB.
DeleteReading Whisper's words again made it get all dusty in here...as it does every time. I don't recall seeing that picture of Lex before.
ReplyDeleteLex posted it in WX Slide on September 21st, 2011. I couldn't find the post in the Wayback Machine but Bill Brandt had it over at the Lexicans.
DeleteEvery time I see that post I flash back to the exact moment I saw it, everything collapses to a point where I'm in my old office, I can even remember what the air smelled like that morning.
Sarge, I know how you feel. I've had similar people in my life, miss them all.
ReplyDeleteHang in there.
juvat
I was thinking of Raz as well when I wrote this
Delete'Tis a season to ponder those who have been significant positive influences on our lives.
ReplyDeleteNeptunus Lex, CAPT Carroll LeFon certainly is one who qualifies for many of us here.
It is truly amazing that a man few of us ever met is so remembered, respected, and missed these twelve years after he left us.
It is even more amazing that his lasting influence 12 years after his leaving us stems from only a little over 8 years of blogging. Some readers were aboard for most of the journey, others discovered him only shortly before, or in some cases even after his passing. Most notable of those is Bill Brandt who diligently posted "Daily Lex" reruns for a private group of admirers, and then went on to curate many of the archived Lex posts from the Wayback Machine for public access on "The Lexicans" https://thelexicans.wordpress.com/
I can only say that I am an ardent admirer of Lex, and a better person for having seen his words, and pondered his thoughts, which changed some of my own.
For those curious as to how Neptunus Lex emerged to reach an audience with such profound impact, I attempted to share that on the 20th anniversary of Lex's entry into blogging.
https://oldafsarge.blogspot.com/2023/10/john-blackshoe-sends-serendipity.html
Gone, sadly, but joyously, he is not forgotten by his many friends never met.
John Blackshoe
Well said, JB.
DeleteI was having to go to a library for internet access then, so didn't get The Word for a couple of days. First was an email from Miss Loralee asking if it was true.
ReplyDeleteI had read his last post, about the brake failures and thinking, "Take the hint!" Hit like a punch in the gut 3 days later when I got back and read about it.
https://youtu.be/yiGU-0iElko?si=fTRD7CFaLwQ0RLL6
Very appropriate, thanks Joe.
DeleteAs time goes on, and those that had positive influences on my life pass on, I have moments when I would like to spend a few hours visiting them and the opportunity to tell them how much I appreciate their part in my life.
ReplyDeleteI would love that as well.
Deleteremember the day and the gut-punch I felt those years ago. I felt it again this morning when I realized what day it was.
ReplyDeleteIf I’m out of line, Sarge, delete me, but is it time to celebrate his birthday instead of this day?
I don’t like sad days any more at my age. I do rejoice though, on the days that things happened to me, joyous days of birth and marriage, landing safely, VX and quality rum. I wish I knew another date to ponder Lex, but alas, I don’t.
Fuzz, D4
Lex's birthday is November 9th, I remember him on that day as well, not necessarily on the blog. I remember this day as Lex's untimely passing spurred me to begin blogging. From death came something new, I cannot forget that.
DeleteCondolences. Just remember, it's not that they died. we all owe one, it's HOW they lived and the impact they had on those around them. You'll see 'em all again, just hopefully none too soon. ;)
ReplyDeleteLol no
DeleteAmen, Brother!
juvat
Roger that, lol no, roger that.
Deletejuvat - ditto on the Amen
DeleteMy downer months come later, though I suppose I could find something year round if I really try. But I choose to try remaining positive.
ReplyDeleteI was late to the party and caught up with Lex only during that last year, my loss. Buck and I, on the other hand, routinely bantered back and forth for some time. Then he was gone, followed almost immediately by two former shipmates. Of course, I certainly realize that I am of an age where that is more likely to happen, but it doesn't make it any easier. Just the other day it occurred to me that in the past 12 months three really good friends have lost their wives. That brings on some memories.
All we can do is drive on, remember those who went before and honor their memories.
DeleteSarge,
ReplyDeleteTo begin, thanks for your blog, much like Lex’s Blog, yours has become my daily stop along with a few other MilBlogs. Your writing and stories put a hook in me, and it’s is my morning “coffee break” at work, minus the coffee.
I remember when John Lennon was murdered. I was a 15-year-old high school punk kid who didn’t really like the Beatles, and John Lennon was a “hippie”. No great loss I thought and I laughed at my fellow students who openly mourned, some genuine and some just jumping on the bandwagon. Flash forward 32 years, and that punk kid was now a Navy Veteran, married Father with 3 boys, a civilian technical blue-collar worker and a Beatles fan, due to the influence of a long-ago high school girl friend. Though George Harrison was her favorite.
After separating from the Navy, I missed the military comradery and the learning that I enjoyed from many I served with. In 2005 I joined the Patriot Guard and performed many difficult missions in the New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania areas. On the internet, Blackfive became a go to and via that site I discovered other Milblogs, and ultimately discovered Neptunus Lex.
Reading his posts felt as if I was in the cockpit with him, standing on the steel deck watching the sun set during a deployment or understanding family dynamics. Lex’s writing made me understand life’s situations better and strengthen my compassion for my fellow man, be they a Veteran or not. Not only did I learn from Lex, but from the many commentators to his posts. Visiting Lex brought me back to the ships I served on and trainings command that I instructed at. With the professional, and sometimes not so professional Sailors around me. Though I was a black shoe Fire Controlman, Lex welcomed me into the Wardroom, Ready Rooms and his living room to meet his family and loved ones. It felt good to serve with Captain Carroll Lefon, though I never got to salute him, enjoy liberty tougher or hear his voice. Lex, via his site and writing, allowed us all to serve together.
Like many, I took an internet coffee break on Tuesday morning March 6, 2012, clicking onto Lex’s site that I had bookmarked on my work computer. Expecting another of Lex’s thought provoking or just plain entertaining posts, but something different was posted and not from Lex. A quick perusal of other Milblogs brought a horrible realization, that the snakes in the cockpit couldn’t be wrestled to a victory that day. I was crushed. When I got home my wife asked what was wrong and I told her a Navy buddy died. She asked who and I told her it was someone I never physically met but I knew like a good friend.
I prayed for Captain Lefon’s family that day and apologized to John Lennon.
A few years ago, I was visiting my son in San Diego. He was a Marine Corps CH-53 power plant mechanic stationed out of Miramar. For dinner one night I took him to Shakespeare Pub for food, a pint of Guinness and shot of Jameson's, my sons favorite. I told him all about a man I served with, but never met. He seemed to understand.
Thanks Lex!
Very Respectfully,
FC1 Navy Veteran
Well said. Thank you.
DeleteWell, remember when things get rough, that you have a Badger in your corner.
ReplyDeleteCopy.
Delete