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My old boss texted me Thursday night to let me know that the police were doing a wellness check on a fellow lab rat. Guy I've known for a very long time. Fellow Vermonter.
The next day she called me, the police found him, dead, at home.
Losing people sucks.
Farewell Doug, you were a damn good man.
Man, I am all f**ked up.
Sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what fellow lab rat refers too, probably a long term co-worker.
Watch your 6 friend. Medical issue or?
Michael the anonymous.
Medical issues.
DeleteStill worth looking into. More than a few medical issues were from exposures at work, so watch your 6 friend.
DeleteI'm quite fond of your excellent writing you know.
Completely unrelated to work.
DeleteSorry for this, Sarge. Always hard . htom
DeleteThanks, htom.
DeleteSorry for your loss Sarge, hope more details come to light for you.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nylon12.
DeleteSarge, Very sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. I know it’s an axiom, but he’s in a better place and we’ll meet up with him when it’s time. I’ll keep him in my prayers. Hang in there my Friend!
ReplyDeletejuvat
Thanks, juvat.
DeleteIt never gets easier to lose a friend.
ReplyDeleteHugs.
Suz
Thanks, Suz.
DeletePrayers up Sarge for both you and Doug and his family and friends.
ReplyDeleteThanks, TB
DeleteI'm sorry for you loss... life is too short.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rob.
DeleteFor some reason, this brought to mind the phrase "For whom the bell tolls." Never ashamed to look stuff up, Google's little AI slaves told me:
ReplyDelete"The phrase "For whom the bell toll" originates from a 1623 meditation by English poet John Donne. Donne famously wrote: "Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."
The quote means that humanity is deeply interconnected. When a funeral bell rings for someone else, it is a reminder that we are all part of the same human family—meaning, in a metaphorical sense, the bell ultimately tolls for everyone.
The phrase was later popularized by Ernest Hemingway, who used it as the title for his famous 1940 novel about the Spanish Civil War. Hemingway adapted Donne's philosophy to suggest that the suffering and loss of liberty anywhere in the world diminishes all of humanity."
Seems apt for us all to be touched by the individual loss of others, more so for friends than strangers. And, some day it will be our turn. Enjoy what we have, while we can.
John Blackshoe
Amen.
DeleteI remember meeting some of your team at Shakespeare's. Younger crowd, present company excepted. If he was one of those, that makes it more shocking. Sorry for your friend.- Tuna
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tuna.
DeleteNever gets easier, does it?
ReplyDeleteNope, it seems to get harder.
DeleteToo many Veterans know this feeling. Stay strong and reach out if you need to. Asking for help, or even just a chat, is not weakness,
ReplyDeleteYup, good advice. Had breakfast with my old boss today. Everyone is pretty rattled about this, but we've got each others' backs. It's going to be a tough week for her, they have to clean out his desk and all. I'm here for her, she's there for me. We're family.
DeleteI hated doing welfare checks.
ReplyDeleteThat has to suck.
DeleteSame.
DeleteRetired
Never a good thing I'm guessing.
DeletePraying in your time of loss for your friend’s family, yours and you. Take care of yourself. Talk. Talk. Talk. Don’t bottle it up.
ReplyDeleteAlways hard.
Fuzz
Thanks, Fuzz. Copy all.
DeleteYou know, when I was young and at the front it was my goal to die at home, in bed. As I kept rotating between home and the front my goal never really changed but I did start to think about pushing that final rendezvous as far to the right as seems reasonable. Watching the smartest man I ever knew fade away into dementia I have once again, reconsidered. I decided that it’s in God’s hands and no doubt safe there. I remember a book from long ago where the various characters would say to those leaving, “go with God.” And they would reply, “abide with God.” It struck me as a friendly bit of advice.
ReplyDeleteBe there for your friends, Curtis
Will do, Cap'n. Sound wisdom.
Delete