Raise your hand if you can't stop crying

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

I post this more as a joke than anything...Kef used to jump in and be the peacemaker when Will would post a "raise your hand thread"...but really...*raises hand* I can't stop crying

[proud patriot]

1. Hand raised n/t

[XanaDUer]

2. NSMA

:hug:

[Piperay]

3. Me

Couldn't sleep last night either. :cry:

[DontBlameMe]

4. Right here.

I told my wife this morning. She's never been on DU, but she'd heard me speak of Kef. She said, "Isn't that the guy with the tv's who keeps you guys informed of what's going on?" I said, yeah but more than that.

Here's to you, Kef. We'll miss you. More than I can say.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

6. All the threads covering the senate hearings in LBN

I could check in on them all day and feel as though I got to watch it...

[Robbien]

10. And if anyone needed answers on what some vote meant

He was always willing to provide insight.

Darn, I miss him.

[DontBlameMe]

15. I know.

I'd go upstairs and say to my wife, "So, anyway, Kef says..." She'd say, "Who the hell is Kef?"

Pretty soon, she knew who everyone here was.

I actually made it through 200 posts of the tread in GD before I ran upstairs. I almost thought it was some kind of sick joke.

I can't beleive he's gone.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

17. Laz called me last night while I was working an event

I kept thinking I'd get home and it would be a mistake...

[Pithlet]

24. That's what I hoped, too.

Laz was on the phone with Kevin when he found out, and told him. When Kev told me, I rushed to the computer, thinking there had to be a mistake.

I can't stop crying, either. It just doesn't seem right. I still have a hard time believing it.

:hug:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

25. Man I miss all the times when we all hung out on AIM

KCR was on when I was more than you were because you were pregnant at the time...

[Misunderestimator]

5. .

:hug:

[MuseRider]

7. It is very hard

and I can't even claim to have had a relationship with him. He was just always here, always kind, always helpful. A lot of heart went with him. It was hard to sleep last night. I hope his Mom has some support, I can't imagine what this is like for her.

[Robbien]

8. *sob* . . . me

Have to keep the tissue box handy today.

[jus_the_facts]

9. *raises hand* :'(

[Coventina]

11. Me *both hands raised*

Just got back from going to the grocery store.

I probably should not have been driving. I just can't get my head around what has happened.

[KittyWampus]

12. Actually, Someone Kicked Kef's Last LBN Thread & I Started Laughing

and immediately felt a lightness of heart.

It was about Fundy Christians in England burning their TV subscription cards cause of the airing of the Jerry Springer Opera.

Really, it was the perfect "Last Thread" for Kephra. :)

[bigwillq]

13. I shed a few tears.

:cry:

I feel so sad for Khephra's family but also for the thousands of DUers who knew Kef so well.
After reading all these posts about Scott, I can understand what a painful loss is passing is.


We need to continue the fight for Scott.

[Thtwudbeme]

14. I felt empty and horrible, but just had the best phone call

from Salin (Thank YOU for giving her my number---now I have a voice to put with the posts---and a new "real" friend) and I feel so much better.

My problem now is that I can't get some of my "old" DU buds on the phone: I just tried to email dmr and the email bounced back-- :(

Much love to you my friend,

Stephanie

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

16. I've been dealing with family stuff today too

So I missed your call..I knew Salin needed to talk and I knew you did too...I know...I was surprised...I got an email bumped back from DMR too..so my addy for her is old...in fact didn't hear from her through the holidays either and we always sent notes at least every couple months...hope all is OK with her...send Comsymp a note and see if he has updated info on her.

[Thtwudbeme]

18. I am going to call soon

unfortunately, I kept Salin on the phone for something like 2 hours (you knew that was going to happen...I talk ALOT) and now have to have some quality Michael/dinner time.

I will send compsymp a note right now--

Stephanie

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

19. yeah I KNEW that would happen..glad you finally got to do it :)

[underseasurveyor]

20. Me, I can't stop either

I can't help it nor would I try. I'm so sad. I know I'll be smiling one day instead of crying when I think of Kef but for the now, this hurts and I'm sad :-(
:grouphug: Be needing more of these :grouphug:
A hug from me to you my friend Teena :pals:
:loveya:
Robin

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

23. thanks

:hug:

[Zomby Woof]

21. yeah

Feeling a little woofless this weekend. :-(

[GoddessOfGuinness]

27. I know, my bud...

:hug::beer::hug:

[fortyfeetunder]

22. Not crying, just depressed.

This is the second #$*#$&*_# this week I've learned of a death of someone I barely got to know, and another thirty-something person, and a sudden death. So this week is crappy at best.

[patdem]

26. Here too...I started to post the :hi: guy but with Kheph gone I can only

:hug: because I have no spirit..i am so saddened I cannot believe it. The first question I asked was ...where is the EYE? Khephra to me was an Egyptian god who ruled benovently...his name and that EYE AND his consistent posts of kindness and humility and unity (except for Dean) just cemented into my mind that Egyptian god. I will always see that when I hear of or read about Khephra or Scott! What a wonderful human being we lost! :hug:

[AlCzervik]

28. i'm really shocked to be honest with you

i just read about him in GD, having a hard time digesting it, tears will set in later i'm sure, right now disbelief is in full swing for me.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

30. Last night in Momma K's thread I almost posted "I am shocked now"

but didn't want anyone to think I was making light of the situation...I opted to use the word stunned instead..I hear ya

[flamingyouth]

29. *sniff*

It hasn't been the finest past seven months, that's for sure.

Kef is the second friend I've lost suddenly since Christmas - both in their 30s. It's really hard to fathom the idea of Kef not being here.

My heart just aches for his mother and for his many friends. I was proud as hell to share a birthday with him.

I am surprised I had tears left - I cried so much last night. I miss him. :cry:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

31. It really has been a tough year for you

so sorry about the loss of your friend...you've had enough tears to last a lifetime this year... :hug:

[flamingyouth]

32. Thank you, dear friend

My friend Molly had a massive heart attack on Christmas Eve and was left without brain function, so her family disconnected her from life support Dec. 29. That has finally started to sink in, but Kef - I just can't believe it still.

I'm just so glad I saved some of his PMs he sent regarding Egypt and other interests we shared. I treasure them now.

Neil has been here since Dec. 29 but he's going home tomorrow. I'm so glad we've had this time together.
:hug:

[ulysses]

33. I'm just numb.

I keep wanting to quote poetry or some fool shit, but I can't.

Much love, dear friends.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

34. Uly

:hug:

[ulysses]

35. ah, Teena.

Would that we could all be together indeed.

[SmileyBoy]

36. I'm just shocked. I don't even know it's true.

If I could get some more info, it would be appreciated.

[ulysses]

37. thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=2924776&mesg_id=2924776

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

38. Check out the home page

He was found dead at 5 pm EST yesterday...cause of death unknown except that the coroner confirmed it was sudden.

[Skittles]

39. blubbered in the shower

:(

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

43. It's rained all day here..anywhere from a half inch to an inch per hour

I feel that way inside and out

[Cheswick2.0]

40. Can't get over it and I don't know why

My room mate who died last may was much like Kephra in that he had lots of health problems and had kind of retired from the world in some ways, but our on-line friends (a small group we called BAD (bad assed democrats) meant everything to Jack.

Kephra had that tie to so many people here. He kept us informed and he was just such a presence. He made the senate and congressional hearings happen for us.

Still I am not sure why I can't stop crying. But in a way I am lucky. I believe in an afterlife, so I imagine Kephra somewhere picking the brains of great world leaders in some political forum in the next dimension.

[KoKo]

41. Another DU'er said Keph's death was the "end of an era"...on DU.

I think that's why it's hard to stop crying. It was when we were close inspite of the arguments and disagreements which have always been part of DU since the beginning.

But, it's he end of Bush's first term and Keph's passing so close on the heels of the vote for Bush's second term...makes it all the worse.

Also..DU is so large now that many never had or took the time to go into LBN or Editorials Forums to see what was there. Many don't even read past the "Subject Line" before jumping in.

It was indeed the end of the first DU Era. And, Keph's the one that was the mainstay of that time.

It's really hard to deal with that with all the other stuff going on out there...so crying jags are what I'm doing myself....

It's so hard..because something "else" is coming...and we don't know what it is. At least for me, that's what it is...:shrug:

"Into the Good Night, Keph..." Softly..

[Cheswick2.0]

42. koko01, you make a lot of sense

Yes, the end of an era has passed. It was a long an painful passing too. Having Kephra leave with it is kind of like watching Frodo get on the ship and sail away with the elves.

[Skittles]

46. down the road there will be Kef remembrances threads

and all the DU oldies will be blubbering

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

45. I can get that

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

44. Thanks for putting that pic of Kef in my head

I am certain he and Ghandi got right down to work and rolled up their sleeves

[Cheswick2.0]

47. yeah and somehow Kephra will find a way to report it all to us

you are welcome

[smirkymonkey]

48. This is so sad. I am in tears even though I had never met him.

Hearing of his death felt like a punch in the gut. I never thought that someone I didn't know could leave such a hole by his departure. After seeing his photograph and hearing about who he was as a person, I am even more saddened, because I never got the chance to know him.

Rest in peace, Khephra. :cry:

[Bride of Cthulhu]

49. hand raised

:cry:

[stevedeshazer]

50. Raising hand

It's no joke.

[Bake]

51. Hand up.

Weakly. I can barely type. This is unbelievable.

What IS believable is the outpouring of love and appreciation for our compatriot, Kheph. That surprises me not at all.

Bake

[Lydia Leftcoast]

52. I think I'm fine, and then something sets me off

:-(

It's been a depressing week. First came the news that someone I knew in Portland (a former health club instructor) is missing and presumed dead in the tsunami. She and her boyfriend were in Phuket when it struck, and no one has seen them since.

Then I attended the funeral of my great aunt, which was not in itself distressing, since she was very old, lived out of state, and had not been back for 12 years, but her segment of the family is all Republican. The family was in the military, and one of the sons even managed to slip a line about "thanking God that our brave troops have liberated the Iraqi people" into his eulogy. I decided to avoid political topics and just enjoy the stories about the old days. Then I went out into the parking lot and saw all the anti-choice bumper stickers. I know that one of those relatives actually turned Catholic because he thought the Lutherans were soft on abortion. What a downer!

Then yesterday evening I sign on to DU only to see Mama Kef's posting. :cry:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

53. Wow...I am so sorry

I know I'd have a hard time biting my tongue in that situation at the funeral... I hope it isn't inappropriate to say this but a wildly funny thought just occurred to me which is...if we could get all of us together for a memorial service for Kheph....what would the stickers in the lot all say?