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Topic: In loving memory (Read 447 times)
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ZboX
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Frankly I'm not really expecting any one to read this as this is actually more for me than anything.
A little over a week ago my Brother in law John suffered a mild heart attack. The doctors installed a couple of stents. The prognosis was good and it really looked like he dodged a major bullet. Last night I called him. Just to talk. Something that we really hadn't done in quite some time. He was his usual jolly self and it was a great conversation. We talked about his plans for the future, and all of the things he wanted to do. And of course after staring the grim reaper in the face life takes on new meaning. At the end of our conversation I told him "I love you 'Bro." And he told me he loved me too.
Those are the last words I will ever hear him speak. About 10 last night he started feeling bad. He was rushed to the hospital but to make a long story short they couldn't save him. He passed away at around 1 this morning. He was 58.
John was not just my brother in law. He was my big brother. We did a lot of wild and crazy things back in the day. And we always had fun. He retired from the Marine Corp after 20 years as a Gunnery Sargent. He did two tours in Vietnam. I remember during the first Gulf war I was visiting him and my sis at Camp Pendleton. He was bumbed that he couldn't get orders to the Gulf, as the Corp wanted to keep him there to train the troops who were going over. I looked him in the eye and said " 'Bro, you're too old for the sh*t." He looked back at me for a sec, then sighed and said "Yah, I know. But that doesn't make it any easier." The man was a Marine!
He was also a very loving husband and father. My Sister and him have been married for 37 years. They raised two wonderful daughters and were gifted with a granddaughter.
I'm sitting here today going through the motions. There is stuff I have to do and emails to answer etc. But I just can't focus long enough to do it. The grief comes in waves. And it hits hard when it comes. I've always been one of those "big boys don't cry" kind of guys. And the rare instances when I do it's ugly LOL!
So I'm sitting here remembering. Going from laughter to tears and everything in between. I tell ya that the world is going to be less of a place without him in it.
And with that I'm just going to say goodbye Gunny. Thank you for the honor of getting to know you. I love you.
Bert
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« Last Edit: June 28, 2008, 06:55:10 PM by ZboX »
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nquale
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Bert I'm sorry to hear of your loss,when it happens so suddenly like that it's such a shock it can be hard to deal with.
My condolences to you and your family.
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nquale
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I know what you mean,my oldest sister died suddenly this last Feb from a heart attack and our last conversation remains in my mind,I think she knew she had heart problems but didn't say anything about it,just hinted towards it.
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CastorBeen
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I would like to add my sincere condolences...CB
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dawhip
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{{{{{{{{bert}}}}}}}}
what a loving tribute to John.
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ZboX
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Just an addendum to this thread. Last week my sister sent me a small urn of John's ashes. A total of six of these mini urns have been sent around the country. 1 to Minnesota to one of his brothers, 4 to Oklahoma where most of his family now lives, 1 to me, and one to Okinawa. More on Okinawa later.
Today me and Rox, took my part of John's ashes down to the South Umpqua River, and placed him there. The river is very low and slow this time of year as it's our dry season. Most was heavy enough to form a small pile in the bottom of the river. Later this year as our rainy season comes the river will rise from it's current 2 ft depth to over 30 ft. And it will be raging and full of spawning Steelhead. And he will be part of that. He loved to fish.
John was stationed in Okinawa twice during his career in the Marines. During his first tour there he learned how to scuba dive. During his second tour he became a Dive Master! And he was a Gunnery Sargent. The Marine Base in Okinawa suggested sending some of his ashes there. They have a plan. He will be loaded into an artillery shell, and blasted into Okinawa Bay. How cool is that?
Today was an absolutely beautiful day here and the area behind our house where we placed his ashes in the river is so beautiful this time of year. Afterwards I sat on our back deck smoking one of his cigars my sister gave me and just reflected. I think John is going to love running with the Steelhead.
~;-)
Bert
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dawhip
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{{{B}}}
what a great way to go! that's what I want, to be cremated and have my ashes thrown over a garden or something similar. I bet John is smiling down at you right now. d
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