Another loss today.......an old friend

[livetohike]

My best friend's brother passed away this morning, on his birthday, at age 55. He was also my first serious boyfriend from High School days. We went to his Senior prom. He is responsible for one-half of the laugh lines on my face. Then he joined the Marines. This was 1969. He went to Viet Nam - two tours. He came home a different person and had many soap opera like troubles in his life.

He suffered with liver cancer since his diagnosis in May. I am 2500 miles away. I can't get home for the funeral. I can't be there to hug my best friend and his parents and his other siblings and express my sympathy to his wife. I will always remember him from the "before Nam" days. I will always remember his wit and the glint in his eyes that was there then......

Please celebrate Fred's life with me with a toast. This is what he would have wanted. :toast: and rest in peace.

[RevCheesehead]

1. To Fred!

:toast: May old friends remain with us forever in our hearts.

[livetohike]

2. Thanks Rev. Cheesehead

:hug: It's a very sad day for me today.

[RevCheesehead]

3. Be sure to take time to grieve.

I know that can sound trite, but often we think we can skip over the sadness and loss. Allow yourself to feel the emotions. That's part of what makes us wonderfully human. :hug:

[havocmom]

4. Peace at last, Fred.

:toast:

And :grouphug: for family and friends. Distance gets smaller when you carry love in your heart. Love is the best energy of all. It knows no limits. He knows you are 'there' with his family.

Perhaps, in death, the soul is unburdened. One would hope.

[livetohike]

5. Thanks havocmom

:hug: I grew up with this family and went through school since 1st grade with Fred's brother, my best friend.

Thank you for your kind words.