Death of a "brethren" :(

[Guest]

After I visited VR.com last night, I visited my First Gen MC club site and was welcomed with the announcement that a beloved member, George L, had died. George and I had more than 1st Gen MCs in common...he also had valve replacement, a mechanical valve. Yes, I know he wasn't a member here, but I wanted to share, nonetheless, as it is a double blow of sorts to me....

The thread:

http://www.firstgenerationmontecarlo.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=004288

My post (since you have to scroll down a ways to read it) :

*pauses*

*sits in silence*

I'm stunned.

Thoughts/prayers/well wishes to George's family.

As most of you know, I make it a mission of sorts to meet as many members as I possibly can...from this group/club/board as well as many others.

George is one of those that I really wanted to meet. Why? That's easy. In George's written words, posted 12-18-2002 09:33 PM:

"I have a mechanical heart valve. Some people claim that they can hear it clicking. Sure glad I have bad hearing, because the clicking would drive me loony(ier) when I try to go ths sleep. I had a somewhat difficult time recovering after the operation the operation until my Dr. got my medication adjusted properly. Now they say that I'm living proof that a person can go through major life threatning problems and recover to live an active life. There are certain medications that I will have to take for the rest of my days, but that is not a problem. I was always sick before, but doing quite well now. Even my type 2 diabetes is under good control. GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND GET WELL SOON."

That quote is George's response to my announcement of my then upcoming open-heart surgery, http://www.firstgenerationmontecarlo.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=001869

You see, George and I had something more than just the 1st gen MC in common ... open heart surgery.

George...I know you are reading this buddy...we will all miss you.

*sits in stunned silence*

Cort, "Mr MC"/"Mr Road Trip"/"The Uniter", 30swm/pig valve/pacemaker
'72/'76/'79/'81/'87 & train & models = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/
Spotting MCs = http://www.chevyasylum.com/mcspotter/main.html

 

[Ross]

Losing anyone always hits hard. Seems heart buddies more so then most others. You have the memories and they'll be there for life. Perhaps you learned a thing or two from George that you'll apply in your own life. Whatever the case may be, he sounded like he got to enjoy himself before being called home. That is a good thing!

 

[hensylee]

My condolences on the loss of your good friend. Friends aren't so easy to come by and when we lose one, it's pretty hard to take. He left you something to remember him and that's a good thing. Blessins to you, my dear.

 

[bvdr]

Cort, I am so so sorry. I know you will miss him. Here is a good place to vent. I lost a very good friend to non-alcoholic liver failure when I happened to be in the hospital last January. It just didn't seem right. When I had my heart surgery she had been so healthy and then all of a sudden, she was sick and died. She was always an encouragement to me and we looked enough alike that many people thought we were sisters. Even though your friend was an internet friend, he was still flesh and blood and I'm sure you will feel the emptiness of his loss. It makes one feel very vulnerable even though we are all survivors.

 

[Marguerite53]

sorry to hear of your saddness

sorry to hear of your saddness

Thanks for sharing. Very sad. Even in your saddnes, this is testament to the depth of caring we as humans are able to feel for each other even if it is just through a connection made through a keyboard. We have such capacity. I'd like to think that with the internet, this newfound tool of ours will ultimately be most important for connections such as these -- building a better communication throughout our fragile world.

Take care.

Marguerite

 

[Lorraine]

Cort,

I'm so very sorry! My deepest condolences! I totally sympathize with you. Cyber friend or in the flesh, he was still a friend to you that had a very positive insight.I know you will miss him dearly.

I also lost a friend who was 41 years old to non-alchoholic liver cancer two weeks ago! I felt too, that it wasn't right. He was so young!

It sounds like the Chicago area group needs to have a get together to give each other some local comfort. It is great that we can come on this site though and get the words of comfort we need to hear from each other. God Belss you Cort! I'll keep you in my prayers. Take care!.

 

[Bryan B]

Cort,

I'm so sorry to hear you lost a good friend. I lost my best friend in high school to a drowning accident a couple of years ago...and even though we had drifted apart as adults, the news was hard to take. I still think about him often. His name was Brantley. Maybe Brantley will show George around and they can watch over both of us together.

Take care

 

[Guest]

Maybe Brantley will show George around and they can watch over both of us together.

*grins*

I like the thought, Bryan!

*turns to group*

Thank you for all you've written. George was a great contributer to the 1st Gen MC Club and had planned to attend the club's western meet this past weekend in NV.

In fact, before Pete received the Email about his death, a couple members had voiced concerns that George had not come, given his eagerness to finally show his car. Those who had met him at previous shows indicated that nothing would have stopped George from arriving at the club's Annual Western Meet.

We found out why he had not attended as planned.

*pauses*

*turns to Lorraine*

I agree. We need to get together soon. But, when, I don't know .

*turns back to group*

Again, thank you.

 

[gijanet]

So sorry, Cort, to hear this..........

So sorry, Cort, to hear this..........

Just checking back in - been on vacation (if you can really call it that with five kids involved ) and started back to work - ugh! ...................

I am so sorry to read your sad news and learn that you are hurting right now. George sounds like he must have had a wonderful sense of humor, and I know you will miss him greatly. It's a shame someone can't show his car for him at one of the shows (hint, hint). Somehow I just know he would like that very much. Many hugs, and you and George's family will be in our prayers.

Take care and God bless.............

 

[Abbanabba]

Cort..... and Lorraine,

I'm so sorry to hear you've both had recent losses.

There are people we meet in life who make an impact on us, and whether we meet them face to face or not, they will always be precious to us. I hope their passing will be a reminder to us all of how fragile life is and how important it is for us to relish each day and seek out new opportunities and experiences.

My condolences and best wishes to you both.
Anna

 

[Guest]

Janet,
I hear you about work .

As for showing the car, I'd love to do that, but the car is in Sacramento CA ... and I'm in IL. Not exactly an easy trip...lol. Plus, if I remember the Email Pete received correctly, the family is already looking to find out what the car is worth so they can sell it....someone in the 1st Gen MC club may buy it anyway....


Anna,
How true! I keep trying to remind myself how precious life is...and to get new experiences, etc., but something called "life" gets in the way.... LOL! Irony rocks .


Thanks again for all the prayers, etc.

 

[Englander]

Deepest Sympathy to you. You have fond memories and this is one thig that cannot be taken away. You are in my thoughts.
Bess

 

[Sherry]

My deepest sympathies to both you, Cort, and to Lorraine. A close friend of mine lost a child this past summer which still weighs heavily on my heart. It makes us all realize how precious and fleeting life can be. Bless you both in this difficult time.

 

[tobagotwo]

Cort, this has been very hard on you, it is plain. You sound as if you feel you are walking alone. I think there must be a similarity between George and you, and Frank and me. Frank is still here, recovering from his stroke, but even his stroke shook me: his passing would have been very hard.

Frank and I aren't real close. We don't hang out together, or spend hours on the phone. We talk, we share some values and some interests, and we respect each other. He just took the time to reassure me when he saw me following unsteadily down his path to AVR. I have to think there was some of that with you and George.

Sometimes, there is someone who brings you into this. Someone who has been there, and who is still confident in his wholeness through this surgical passage. He tells you not to worry, and he stands there in all his grinning aliveness, putting the embarrassing lie to all your concerns. Then he answers your timid questions, and you toddle off, feeling a little foolish for being afraid, yet still somehow afraid. But just a little bit less.

Such a person is not to die so soon. We are to get out of touch and find out much, much later, much more distantly. When we needed to believe in them, their simple acts of living were our sacraments, both our connection to the unknown and our shield from it. Now we must deal for ourselves, and we appreciate what they were all the more for having to do it.

I'm sorry you have lost a comrade, a Brother-of-the-Valve, a mentor. I hope you can be that for someone else. Maybe you already are, as he showed you well.

With regrets for your sorrow,

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi cort!
haven't been on much but just read about your loss and wanted to tell you that i am so sorry. it's hard enough losing a buddy, but i find it even more upsetting when it is something we have in common with that person. kind of makes our own mortality tangible. it often frightens me...
please know that you are in our thoughts.
hope it gets easier with time.
stay well, sylvia

 

[Guest]

Wow.

Thank you Bess, Sherry, Bob & Sylvia, for your comments. I appreciate them all more than you may know/realize....