- Thread starter
- #481
Greg Boeser
1st Lieutenant
My condolences. May he rest in peace.
What made me sad today... (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter Greg Boeser
- Start date
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
It hits very hard. I remember the pain of losing my dad. My deepest condolences.
ARTESH
Chief Master Sergeant
Mainly28s
Senior Airman
We had his farewell yesterday- a very small, private event with only his wife, children, grandchildren and spouses in attendance. Now to pick up the pieces and see how life goes on without him.
N4521U
Plastic Pirate
Well, I miss Paul, Meatloaf.
We video chatted off and on.
Even when I was in hospital.
I once flashed the Old Fella with a 3 way catheter, ugly!
I asked him to tell me what he was going thru, brain cancer.
A lot of disorientation and headaches. Was not pleasant.
There was a lull in his responses to me messages, I knew.
His wife then answered my messages, confirmed his passing.
He was still building odds and end models, mostly for his grand kids.
Every once in a while I want to chat with him.
In the last year I have lost two good Calligraphy friends in the SF Bay area.
Ward, was a point man in Viet Nam. Big bruiser he was. Gentle Giant.
He was a Black Letter, "Old English" to the novice. He is in the Speedball book.
I had known him for 45+ years. He was a bartender at Enrico's on Broadway, SF.
Alan, my friend of as many years. Another prolific Calligrapher from The City.
A small man with a big heart. Never heard him say a bad word about anyone.
He worked magic with a brush and a pen. He had a rough go at the end.
Not much money to keep himself going but a lot of us came to his aide to
make sure he was comfortable. His friends in SF looked after him well.
He designed the Font Papyrus that seams to show up everywhere.
Even saw a poster in the outback with his font. Small world.
Just recently lost a sigpainter in Mendocino, another I've known for 45+ years.
If you visit Mendo, Fort Bragg area most of the Real signs there were done by Rick.
A soft spoken man whose company I cherished. Just went by the business name The Sign Shop.
Lived in the woods onna plot he and his wife cleared. Built a house, then a big barn for a shop.
A very talented man his wife worked his side. Annie and I visited them a couple of times.
Wonderful times there in Mendo.
So there it is. Feeling humble these days.
Bill
We video chatted off and on.
Even when I was in hospital.
I once flashed the Old Fella with a 3 way catheter, ugly!
I asked him to tell me what he was going thru, brain cancer.
A lot of disorientation and headaches. Was not pleasant.
There was a lull in his responses to me messages, I knew.
His wife then answered my messages, confirmed his passing.
He was still building odds and end models, mostly for his grand kids.
Every once in a while I want to chat with him.
In the last year I have lost two good Calligraphy friends in the SF Bay area.
Ward, was a point man in Viet Nam. Big bruiser he was. Gentle Giant.
He was a Black Letter, "Old English" to the novice. He is in the Speedball book.
I had known him for 45+ years. He was a bartender at Enrico's on Broadway, SF.
Alan, my friend of as many years. Another prolific Calligrapher from The City.
A small man with a big heart. Never heard him say a bad word about anyone.
He worked magic with a brush and a pen. He had a rough go at the end.
Not much money to keep himself going but a lot of us came to his aide to
make sure he was comfortable. His friends in SF looked after him well.
He designed the Font Papyrus that seams to show up everywhere.
Even saw a poster in the outback with his font. Small world.
Just recently lost a sigpainter in Mendocino, another I've known for 45+ years.
If you visit Mendo, Fort Bragg area most of the Real signs there were done by Rick.
A soft spoken man whose company I cherished. Just went by the business name The Sign Shop.
Lived in the woods onna plot he and his wife cleared. Built a house, then a big barn for a shop.
A very talented man his wife worked his side. Annie and I visited them a couple of times.
Wonderful times there in Mendo.
So there it is. Feeling humble these days.
Bill
N4521U
Plastic Pirate
Losses are sometimes overwhelming, I just needed to putting it into words.
To those who feel loss, my deepest thoughts go out to you.
To those who feel loss, my deepest thoughts go out to you.
mikewint
Captain
First, let me preface this post by saying that if you are not a "dog" person and are of the "it's only a dog" persuasion stop reading as you will never understand. Just skip this post
On March 29th at 3AM our beautiful Irish Wolfhound Saoirse died. She was eleven years and eight months old. That might seem a short time but the Giant Breeds are short lived as a result of their large stature. Irish Wolfhounds average about 8-9 years old so ours was a long-lived girl but not nearly long enough.
She was the only surviving pup of her entire litter (most likely Parvo). I drove to Tennessee to get her and carried her home in my arms.
About 5 years ago she collapsed, could not stand or walk,while we were on vacation. The boarding kennel called, took her to our Vet and we rushed home. She had contracted Ehrlichiosis, a tick born bacterial disease which fortunately responds to antibiotics. A week later she walked out of the Vet's hospital.
About 4 years ago she developed a swelling on one of her left breasts which the Vet felt was a tumor but advised waiting to see if and how it would develop. Within about a month's time it had become quite large and by another months time had grown to the size of a grapefruit. The Vet was able to remove it completely and it was cancerous. Over the next year she developed 5 more tumors which were removed quickly (no longer any doubt about cancer) and successfully.
She remained in good health passing her 11th year with us hoping to set a new IW age record. Her age was showing and she was having problems walking and controlling her rear legs but still very alert and even running from time to time.
On April 18th we took the girls out in the yard at 6PM as usual. Saoirse walked out, down the ramp, into the yard did her usual doggie business barked at neighbors, took treats and was normal in every respect. We brought them in the house at about 7PM. Saoirse ate some food drank water and laid down in her bed and went to sleep. At 11PM it was time for their last potty break, the other girls ran out but Saoirse did not move. I called her name several times and still no response. I finally had to shake her awake. She could not stand. I tried to lift her but she just collapsed. My wife came over and the two of us got he up but she could not stand and just collapsed. We called the Vet and she advised us to bring her in ASAP. Ocer the next hour and a half the two us us tried laboriously to lift and move 140lbs of totally flaccid dog. We even improvised a make-shift stretcher out of two poles and a bed sheet. Eventually getting her into a car we got to the Vet clinic, got her inside and the Vet quickly determined that Saoirse was running a high fever. She started her on IV antibiotics and we left for home.
On Monday the 20th we called and were told tha Saoirse was alert, eating and drinking but still unable to stand. She remained at the hospital until the 24th when the Vet told us that they had done everything they could do there and that she might improve better at home. She still could not walk but using a lift sling she could move her front legs and we made it to the car. We went to a pet supply and purchased a rear lift harness and between myself and my wife we were just able to get her up as long as one of us held her back end up basically dragging her hind legs. This continued the rest of Friday and Saturday. On the 25th we decided that we were just torturing her and accomplishing nothing in the process. So at 11Pm after her last dragging out we got her settled in her bed on absorbent pads.
At 3AM Sunday she whined and barked. We both heard her and came running in time to see her vomit white foamy mucus, cough a few times, put her head down and slowly stop breathing.
My beautiful lovely girl was no more. Words cannot convey my grief and the loss I feel. My hard old black stone of a heart is broken. I want my girl back but the universe remains oblivious and unrelenting.
[h1]"I have sometimes thought of the final cause of dogs having such short lives and I am quite satisfied it is in compassion to the human race; for if we suffer so much in losing a dog after an acquaintance of ten or twelve years, what would it be if they were to live double that time?"[/h1]
― Walter Scott
cammerjeff
Tech Sergeant
Condolences, I know how hard it is to lose a 4 footed friend and family member. Sometimes harder losing a close personal friend. I am still not over having to put our last Greyhound I still look for him sometimes and it has been over 2 years, we were lucky that he made it to almost 15 years old, just a few days short of that birthday. Of the 8 Greyhounds we had, he was the only one that my wife considered my dog, all the others followed her where ever she went, and really only looked at me for food, treats and walks. He was always attached to my hip were ever we went, even the dog park.
Stay strong I know its hard.
Stay strong I know its hard.
This is a song about losing a dog. Played here once a year or so to remember all the best
friends our family has had over the years.
View: https://youtu.be/K-4hFA6ALNU
friends our family has had over the years.
View: https://youtu.be/K-4hFA6ALNU
Thinking of you my friend, losing mine was the hardest thing I've gone through.
Lucky13
Forum Mascot
That's no such a thing as "it's only a dog", "it's only a cat"....I'm sorry for your loss of a much beloved family member! 
special ed
1st Lieutenant
- 7,077
- May 13, 2018
A friend, now also gone, used to say, "Dogs and cats are little people in fur coats."
mikewint
Captain
My most sincere and heartfelt thanks to all of you. It is good to know others share and have felt the grief of loosing a "dog". I have heard over and over "what's your problem, it is just a dog, you can get another" It leaves me at a loss for words, there is no way to explain it to them.
Saoirse at 14 weeks. She had been with us for two weeks at this point in time.
Saoirse at 14 weeks. She had been with us for two weeks at this point in time.
special ed
1st Lieutenant
- 7,077
- May 13, 2018
Each animal has it's own unique personality, therefore "getting another" does not fill the void. Only begins a new unique relationship.
- Thread starter
- #495
Greg Boeser
1st Lieutenant
Said goodbye to a younger collegue today. He lost his battle with cancer at 57. Good guy. He'll be missed.
Next Saturday, I will travel 300km to say goodbye to an old friend. It's hard to lose someone who has meant a lot to you, even if you haven't seen that person for years.
- Thread starter
- #497
Greg Boeser
1st Lieutenant
I know the feeling. Tomorrow is the memorial service for a longtime collegue. That's two in the last six weeks.
Sorry for both your losses. My deepest condolences.
ARTESH
Chief Master Sergeant
cvairwerks
Staff Sergeant
Coworker that just got back to work after a 4 month hiatus to recover from open heart surgery, is back in the hospital with an eye stroke. If they didn't catch things in time, he'll lose the sight in that eye.
