Everybody Goes Away In The End

[tabs]

Today I found out two people that I knew or had met have passed away. The first was a man who was the FIL of a friend. I had known Yank for about 20 years, he was 90. He was a retired Cal Poly Pomona Proffessor. He had been in failing health for several years as his hips were shot. Finally he fell about 6 weeks ago and had to be put in the hospital. For the most part they kept him sedated on morphine for the pain in his hips. Then several weeks ago he stopped eating and drinking. He kept going mostly just on pure stuborness.

Ironically it was his son Mike that was killed last week here in Vegas in a Motorcycle accident at 58. A school bus was making a left turn on a green light. Mike locked the brakes went sideways and slammed into the bus. I had only met him once mnay years ago at a holiday dinner.

I feel alittle sad about Yank, but he isn't suffering anymore and he had lived a good long life. and it was just his time His son is a shame but I barely even remember him at the dinner.

[Danimal16]

Sad, very sad.

[Racerbvd]

I know the feeling, I lost 3 friends with in a week of each other last month

[Crowbob]

All last year and part of this, I was averaging one funeral per month. Which has definitely affected my life and relationships in a good way. No more taking friends and family for granted. Lesson learned. About half of these deaths were totally unexpected and untimely. Lost my father, brother, friends, coworkers and a pet. Puts petty disagreements in perspective. My condolences Tab, Byron and others. Every minute of every day has become a gift. Even now, my eyes well up with tears of grief and joy at unexpected and unpredictable times.

[widgeon13]

Yesterday, I attended a funeral for my DIL's grandfather, visited my 97 Y.O. mother in a nursing home and then visited a friend recovering from a brain abscess. He's been in the hospital for 6 months either in ICU or some level of care, now in a rehab facility. Driving 400 miles to get to all the various destinations. It was a long, sad day.

Got home to find a sonogram of my (first) new grandchild posted on FB.

"The circle of life".

At least the sun was shining on the way home.

[GH85Carrera]

The one great equalizer, death. It will happen to everyone eventually.

[jyl]

Going away in the end is okay. It's going away in the middle that is sad.

[Tim Walsh]

Yep, dealing with it here too. My wife's a teacher with only a dozen or 2 kids. She's got a brother-sister pair who's father shot his brother(kids uncle) then turned the shotgun on himself last week. He was the primary breadwinner and the mother is completely lost/catatonic at this point. Son doesn't understand(he's 4) and the sister is one step below the mother in terms of functioning.

Originally Posted by jyl

Going away in the end is okay. It's going away in the middle that is sad.

This. No sadness when my grandfather died earlier this year. He was 90, a WWII vet and 30 years on the road for CASE tractors. He led a full life, if I can do the same then I'll be lucky.

[jwhcars]

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty & well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, totally worn out & proclaiming, "Wow what a ride!"
Just live each day the best that you can .... cherish family and friends and let the ones you love know it.

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

The one great equalizer, death. It will happen to everyone eventually.

Agreed but they do not tell you this about growing up. If you survive that means that a lot of your friends/family will not.

[ckissick]

Originally Posted by tabs

A school bus was making a left turn on a green light. Mike [on his motorcycle] locked the brakes went sideways and slammed into the bus.

A school bus ran me off the road a couple of weeks ago. But I was in my Westy and only bent a bumper and some of the sheet metal. I know a lot of guys here ride a motorcycle, but I just can't do it. I'd rather have a bent bumper than be dead.