I need a shoulder to cry on (Fire and Rain) with snopes link

[Omaha Steve]

"Just yesterday morning they let me know you were gone". James Taylor was on the radio a few moments ago. Knowing that "Suzanne" in the song "Fire and Rain" (based on real life while James was addicted to heroin) committed suicide got me to crying.

A few weeks ago I mentioned a Christmas party Marta and I attended in memory of a friend. A friend we lost to suicide in 2007. She and I spent 2 years working closely to end the Canadian Harp Seal hunt. Marie was between jobs in a career change that gave her plenty of extra time to fight the good fight.

I've never liked the term lesbian. Why are guys gay, and women lesbian? I'd prefer the term gay to cover both male and female.

Marie left behind several friends that miss her. We didn't care that she was gay. We cared about HER. We still miss her so.

That is how we felt about Ken. We lost him in 1980. He killed his significant other. Then he turned the gun on himself. The police didn't release any details of Ken's suicide recording he left on a cassette tape.

We still talk of both of them often. Perhaps someday gay people will be understood. That day can't come to soon for those of us left behind to deal with the loss of so many friends.

"But I always thought that I'd see you again"

Yes I've had a few.

OS

The story of Fire and Rain: http://www.snopes.com/music/songs/firerain.asp

Fire And Rain Lyrics

Just yesterday morning they let me know you were gone
Suzanne the plans they made put an end to you
I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song
I just can't remember who to send it to

I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again

Won't you look down upon me, Jesus
You've got to help me make a stand
You've just got to see me through another day
My body's aching and my time is at hand
And I won't make it any other way

oh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again

I’ve been walking my mind to an easy time
My back turned towards the sun
Lord knows when the cold wind blows it’ll turn your head around
Well, there’s hours of time on the telephone line
To talk about things to come
Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground.

oh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you, baby, one more time again, now

Thought I'd see you one more time again
There's just a few things coming my way this time around, now
Thought I'd see you, thought I'd see you fire and rain, now

[WillyT]

1. Have Mine...

:grouphug:

[marew]

2. So sorry. n/t

[Fire1]

3. Stay strong...........for them

[Rhiannon12866]

4. K&R. I've been thinking about that song quite a lot lately.

I've had two friends who took their own lives and a third who tried. The former two were young, mid-twenties, and I've often thought of all they had missed and how different their lives would be today. I've tried to explain this to others. Anyone who makes that choice leaves a very big hole, one that will never be filled, and has a greater effect on those they leave behind, more tragic than they would ever have imagined. I understand pain, but I've never understood how these gentle souls would want to inflict such unbearable pain on others, those who love them the most... But they will never know. And I always thought that I'd see them again, too. ;(

Touching post, Steve. And my condolences to you...

Rhiannon :hug:

[wildflowergardener]

5. Wow

All these years I thought it was his wife who died in a plane crash - I heard that at camp in the 80's. Thanks for the link.

I'm sorry about your friend.

Meg

[yellerpup]

6. Go ahead and feel how you feel.

You'll still hurt in the morning, but you'll recover and you'll still have Marta and you'll still have our grateful respect for all you give and all you do. For now, :hug:

[donco6]

7. Yes, I remember reading that in a Taylor interview.

And the song really took on a whole different dimension.

Sorry about your friend.

[flvegan]

8. I remember your post about Marie.

I lost a good friend to suicide this past year. He and I rescued a couple animals together.

I'll never forget him. I'll never forget how shocked I was when I heard he'd killed himself.

[SpookyCat]

9. I'm sorry Omaha Steve.

I'm glad you have such good support IRL, that's important. :hug: