OT: An old friend is leaving: Courage under fire.

Kismet

Kismet

Joined
Jan 30, 2002
Messages
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I have a friend who is in the end stages of cancer that he has fought since 2001. He may have the best attitude and disposition of any human I've met in a long while. He's a former biker (motorcyclist), with a family mostly grown, and a spirit that makes me smile, even as I grieve.

I'd recently emailed him about being sorry that his borrowed time was running out.

Here's a bit of an email I just got in return.

Thanks alot for the note..enjoyed much, as I always do!!~Thing is, they keep on telling me that I,m not gonna be here, every so many weeks or so..But, ya know what??I figure as long as I dont listen to umm to close, I,m bound to get a few more days outta the deal, and so far its been working for me..Tho, I know every thing must come to an end sometime..I been damn lucky to have many good pards, and friends..And, to tell ya the truth, I really do think that alot of the reason that I,m still around is from alla the good thoughts and prayers and such that have been thrown my way..I mean hey??there,s gotta be some reason for it?/..So far, am just now starting to go thru alot of what they told me I would a few months ago..and, the pain parts of it are,nt much fun..but, my docs been workin with me real well so far..and will tell what!!thats a blessing in itself!!~I surely dont envy those that have to go thru something like this, without a good doc at there side..would be real easy to see how so dang many want to end things a lil early..Which, thanks to my doc rite now..am ready to put up a fight still..and, enjoy each and every day, and still go like a madman..so many things yet to do!! and so lil time!!~damn..aint it the truth!!lol..think of you often pard, and as always!~wish you the best, and look forward to the next time I,m graced with a note from ya, take care!~ John"


Classy guy. I was lucky to know him. :)


Kis
We have so much.
 
Sending smoke in gratitude for folks like him. I'm also glad for folks like Munk who keep in touch with Pappy for us, and you for telling us of folks like your friend. UB also, for his being honest with his ups and downs.

Smoke on the way. Thanks again, Kis.
 
I don't want to die. Not sure how I'd handle it. That man sure looks sterling.

...........

You know if there's nothing beyond then when you die you were never born?
(only in other's eyes)

..............


E Kubler Ross was the guru of death in modern psych. Her work is still textbook- stages of death and dying and changes the participant undergoes.
Then she went to a seance or something and decided there was an afterlife.
Later, I heard her discredit the event but still believes in an afterlife.

........

The best man I ever knew believed in and spoke with God. He also had an extremely high IQ, though I'm not sure what that means.
He was an engineer and physicist sort of chap. Also an outfitter, hotrodder, gunsmith.
The thing is, if he believed, what am I?

............

I used to say any half honest life would encounter 'mystical' experience or God. To discredit the same means we are merely fooled by our senses and unexplained science. That people far smarter, with big Souls and Hearts have Believed means much to me.

........

There's nothing special in these thoughts and hope I haven't given appearence of disrespect towards Kis's amazing friend.

Some People make us go, "Wow."

There's not much we can do about death except to live.
And living is hard.


Sort of between a rock and a hard place.


Untenable life. The cunundrum. The 'razor's edge'.

I've noticed nothing beats simple chores for peace of mind.

munk
 
A good friend of mine's sister, who is also a friend of mine and was a fellow Deadhead back in the day died this weekend. She had an asthma attack and then went into cardiac arrest. She got to the hospital but for some reason didn't make it. She was only 40 or a little over. Also Pushbutton our mod over at talkblade fell off his roof and died. Sad when good people you love go. Enjoy them every minute you can I say.

GI Guirjeff(sp?) and Carlos Castenada both said to use death as an advisor, and all the superfluous stuff would fall away. Surely makes me think to always tell people you appreciate them and to enjoy them every time you get together with them.
 
fer a Cantanista's friend. May he wendhias way to the halls of his ancestors.

"if there's nothing beyond"--gawd, I should be so lucky! I kinda hope its a big void, kinda Daoist, I know, but think of the peace! No hot, cold, hunger, sadness, no pollution or industrial white noise, etc. Just one with nothingness, expanding and falling in on itself forever...

In the end, I'll have what he's having. We all will.

Keith
 
Just put on my headstone, "He's Not Here."

As a Christian I believe in an afterlife. You can never be sure until you go. I figure if there is no afterlife, WTF, I won't know about it when I go.

But at my age, soon be 61, I have known family members and friends to die. My mother (92) and my father (85) both died in 2003. Six months apart.

My advice is to tell people that you love them while they and you are still around. Life is uncertain.

BTW I have studied long living people. What common traits did they have. Some watched their diet and some didn't. Some drank and smoked, some didn't, etc., etc.

The common denominator is that they ALL let go of negativity. They did not carry it and let it eat their life force. AND they ALL had some thing that was their passion, be it a rose garden, community works, (this Forum and the kamis for Uncle Bill), whatever.

Each morning they got up and did something that they loved doing.

So get up every morning and thank God for your life. AND IF you have trouble getting up in the morning just drink a lot before you go to bed!

Water or beer! Your choice!
 
I like what you said, Bill.
I don't quite believe all roads lead to the same place, nor do I believe it's a race with a placed finish.
You can't run far with crap in your diapers.

I've long thought disassociation from God is hell.
Don't believe in a lake of fire- unneccesary.

Judgement is a funny game. Different sects have it spliced fine. The smallest mistep and you're lost. Sounds awful of Christianity until you think of the fashionable thought amongst Eastern seekers with titles like, "the Razors Edge". How about Herman Hesse's protaganists falling and failing? And then the stupid things in general literature, like this drivel which has haunted me from college- "he who ponders genius too soon is lost forever."

The truth of all this is we do it to ourselves. We love to hate, as Bill says.
You hear that; "Nee Nee Nee Naaahhh." At the End of Time?
I don't.

If you've ever been touched by the Great Heart, the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, then you know all the bad falls away as less important and the good is there and shining as if it had never been lost.
I'm not a murderer so don't know if this works for everyone. There may be some blocks so deep the love can't get through- seperation from God.

And naturally, if you don't believe me, why, you're doomed of course.


munk
 
We do have so much.

Thank you, Kismet, and thanks to everyone who has the courage to live like that, and the kindness to share it with us.

John
 
I do not fear death. You live the best you can and be ready to go when you're called back. On my seax (etched by Ferrous Wheel) it says "If you are prepared, you will not fear" - a motto I hold to.

The only sad part for me is the people death leaves behind. Even so, grieving is good for the soul.

For years, my wife worried about me riding a motorcycle. I finally told her, "Look, if I get killed on a bike, you'll know I died with a smile on my face." ;)
 
We are all afraid of death. That's why there's a smile on your face riding the motorcycle.

...................

There's been a couple times in crisis I've not been afraid. I don't know why- maybe what you said- living so fully can't stop to consider death.



munk
 
munk said:
We are all afraid of death. That's why there's a smile on your face riding the motorcycle.
...................
There's been a couple times in crisis I've not been afraid. I don't know why- maybe what you said- living so fully can't stop to consider death.

munk
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I'm not afraid of death or dieing anymore thanks to the last couple of years!
There's been many the night, and the day, the last couple of years that I prayed to the Great Mystery to not let me wake up when I went too sleep.
I was so damned tired of the pain and sickness that death would have been a great boon to me!
When anyone lives in such circumstances long enough, or suffers enough great pain, death and the relief it would bring becomes something you would lovingly embrace. And depression on the top of it doesn't make it any easier either.
Anyway at least that's the way it was for me.

Dan spoke it well when he wrote: "The only sad part for me is the people death leaves behind. Even so, grieving is good for the soul."

My Barbie is what kept me going along with the rest of my family, friends, and the Cantina here. If it hadn't of been for my Barbie and my inability to get far enough back in the woods so as to not be found easily so there wouldn't have been too much of a mess for anyone close to me to clean up, suicide would have been a definite alternative many days.
The thought of death brought a great peace to me. I know now that when it Does become my time to go that I won't fear it even if I don't embrace it.
I don't believe any well person 'wants' to die.

However I am very grateful for my new Dr. and the results of my greatly improved health!
Life is once again worth living and the new found freedom of being able to get out and about with the means of my new Rollator/Walker is wonderful.
It will be here in about a week. I ordered it yesterday before we took the one we had rented back.
I'm already missing walking every day but need the time off from walking to get some things done that I promised to do.:D
A week will be soon enough and my new one is bigger and hopefully better. At least I won't have to squinch up to set down on it as well as getting out of it.
Checked one just like it out at a local store. They were asking $360.00 for it and I got mine online for $175.00!!!!
So, if anyone needs hardware medical equipement check it out online before you go getting it from a brick & mortar store!:rolleyes:

Kis's friend knows what it's all about and that's good. Some people never get to that point.:(
 
As have I. But there's something to be said for staying behind and offering what you've learned to others in need of direction. And learning yourself better, before you go.

Then sometimes it all seems futile.
 
I've never seriously considered checking out.

I have thought long and hard about checking some other folks out though.
 
Semper Fi said:
I have thought long and hard about checking some other folks out though.
Click to expand...
Me too Semp, me too.
Some people just need killin!:grumpy:
 
BTTT because I got another email from my buddy.

:) I'll start a new thread with it.

Kis
 
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