STORM2K

Rains this weekend didn't help, but I have to admit I'm in need of a shoulder or two to lean on today.

Woke up this morning to news that I had lost a lifelong friend to cancer. I was not even aware he was ill yet learned of his passing, so I've spent time today sending messages here and there trying to learn some more.

Bob and I spent much of our school years together, and in particular, he and a handful of others spent much of our offtime in high school in search of a gig or two for the local band we assembled. A crazy time for us (as are most high school years), and in the end we could count those gigs on two hands, but the friendship and reach for the dream was a whole lot of fun.

I was drafted and went to Vietnam. He joined the Army and went to Germany. We met a time or two after that, but our paths led us elsewhere. He lived the last 26 years in Vermont. I've lived in Illinois and Arizona.

At this time of year we tend to miss our fallen friends and family...those that have passed on or otherwise left our lives.

While I'm leanin' a bit on your shoulders tonight because of the loss of a friend, I'd like to start this thread as a place where you can come lean and remember those you'll be missing.

And, I'd like also to use this space to celebrate their lives and friendship too.

Tony, our bass player back in 1963, sent me this comment about Bob today...

Dear Steve,

I too was shocked and saddened to read our friend's name in the obituaries
this morning. The list of his accomplishments was impressive, most of them
things I was unaware of. I knew him before most of those things took place,
and the Bob that I knew was not mentioned.... "Bob the Drummer".

His obituary said he loved to make maps. He's charting a course to an
unknown destination now, one we all will someday follow. I'm certain he'll
leave some signs along the way, assuring a reunion
of rock and roll souls in a farm house in the sky. We don't have to be in a
hurry, Steve, it'll take him years to get the drums set up.

Saddened by the news, buoyed by the memories,

Tony

Indeed memories are priceless, especially at Christmas. Anyone wanting to lean my way with thoughts of their own this holiday season, feel free. Let's lean together this year. It's been a tough one for many.

A little hard for me today.

Oh Steve, I am so sorry for your loss! This time of the year is very difficult to lose loved ones.

Christmas Day, 1985 I learned at my parent's house during Christmas dinner that my grandfather had passed away earlier in the day. He had been ill for quite some time, but none the less, it was my first grandparent to die. I was very fortunate to have known all four of them while growing up and into adulthood. Now they are all gone, but I do have wonderful memories of Christmases past.

Steve, here's a shoulder. I'm sorry about the sad news. Enjoy the memories. I'll keep you in my thoughts.

Steve, here's another shoulder for you. You've held me up quite a bit over the years. Now It is my turn.

I lost one of my best friends January 3, 1999 to cancer also. He was my father. Hardly a day goes by that I don't think about him. He is the one who instilled the interest and love of weather in me. He was the true epitomy of a "Gentle man". He defined laid back. But I knew what the boundaries were!!! Heaven knows I crossed them many times and I can probably count on one hand the number of times he raised a hand to me in any way. I miss him deeply and look forward to those chases we were never able to go on when we meet again.

First off, here's yet another shoulder for you to lean on Steve and the rest of you, I've got pretty broad shoulders..

Steve, I am so sorry to hear about your loss.....it's tough any time of the year but more so with the holiday season upon us.

Dennis

You can always lean on me too Steve. I am so very sorry to learn of your childhood friend's passing. It's hard to lose touch with people you just assumed you'd always been in touch with. You might see them once a year if you're lucky (in our case with out of town friends we see over the holidays if our schedules permit) but sometimes people just drift away. And a special memory of them brings you back to another time and place. I sense you're doing that a lot today. I'm sure it's a double shock since you weren't aware he was ill. Had you known, I'm sure you would have contacted him. That I'm certain of! Maybe he didn't want others to know of his illness? I can relate as you know, since I'm a cancer survivor. I've since encountered several fellow cancer patients and/or survivors that are very private - they only want their immediate family members to know of their struggle. I try my best to respect this approach. It's the just way some folks are I've decided. I also want others to respect my decisions.

Hugs going out to you today, my friend. As others have pointed out, you've been there countless times for your Storm2K family when members are in need. Now it's our turn to help you.

Mary

Steve you have my shoulder my friend.My thoughts and prayers go to you and your family.

So sorry about the loss of your friend, Steve. It sounds like you shared a very special part of your life together.

My thoughts and prayers are with all who are feeling a loss of someone special this season. The S2K Leaning Post is big and strong. We bear each other's burdens. It's part of why we're here. Thanks for sharing. God bless.

Steve, here is another shoulder for you my friend. My thoughts and prayers are going out to you. Sad news is so intensified by the emotional Holiday Season. What wonderful memories you must have of those high school years. When I'm feeling very sad and lonely about the loss of Craig, I try to focus on the happier times, happier memories - all that I might have missed had he not been in my life.

((Hugs)) my friend. Bob was very lucky to have you for a friend. You have such a great impact on all the lives that you touch.
Karan

I'm sorry to hear of your loss. Here's to a life without pain and suffering.

In his death, my friend Bob brought me closer to another former rock band member, Tony. He's had a tough year himself that has been mixed with the arrival of two new grandbabies and the tragic loss of his step-daughter in April.

I thought I would share his message to the judge. I find it emotionally difficult to read, but containing a wonderful message nonetheless.

I plan on being a leaning post for Tony later today....during this holiday season.

Address to the court:

I didn’t really want to be here today, but since MaLocka couldn’t make it, I
decided that I would try to say a few things for her. If she were here,
she’d probably want to know what happened last April 5th. I’d like to know,
too.

Was something, someone chasing Craven (name omitted)? Was Craven (name omitted) chasing something, someone? Where was he going? It was a little before midnight on a Monday. Why wasn’t he at home with the girl friend and children that he misses so much now? What was he up to? Where was he going?

Let me answer those two questions. He was up to 110 miles an hour, and he was going to kill MaLocka.

When I see clips of the planes slamming into the World Trade towers, I think of his car smashing into MaLocka’s car. She was going to work. She was trying to earn a living. I know how hard she tried, how many times she’d been knocked down, how she struggled for her meager share. I also saw her find happiness and contentment. She was a sweet and gentle spirit that refused to be kept down, with a smile that could lift the heaviest of hearts.

That’s who Craven killed: the real “Little Engine That Could”, the most
loving and dutiful of daughters, sisters, grandchildren, soul mates.

Craven isn’t here today to listen to me. I’m sure he doesn’t want to hear
about MaLocka. I just wanted Judge White to know that hearts have been
broken, and lives have been shattered because Mr. Phipps, for whatever
reason, chose to become a human bullet, without regard for other lives that were trying to be lived on a terrible night in April, 2004.

Hopefully, someday Craven (name omitted) will realize what he has done. I don’t know. Perhaps confinement and forced sobriety will humanize the monster. I do know a couple of things: Children grow up fast, but they die in an instant, and this world is a safer place while Craven (name omitted) is constrained to zero miles per hour, with nothing to kill but time.

Tony

Wow, that's quite a powerful statement.

I am always puzzled why 9 times out of 10, the drunk drivers are not the ones killed in the accidents they cause. Not fair.