Goodbye To A Friend I Never Met

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Goodbye to a Friend I Never Met

I have been involved in Internet Communties for many years for people of my age group (Babyboomers). We have tended to remain close, although those of us outside the USA have rarely met the American members.

One of the members who has always been with us was a Vietnam veteran. He was badly injured in Vietnam in 1969 (land mine I think) and has been in a wheel chair ever since. He never complained, never mentioned it- not having seen him, it was several years before I learned of his disability and how it happened. He was very private but gradually through banter become good friends.

A few weeks back he was not going well health wise. He was scheduled for surgery by Vets Affairs. They found he had a rare form of cancer- Agent Orange connection- perhaps. I don’t know. They couldn’t operate and he was sent home with hospice care.

A few of us from the community threw in a few dollars and sent him a laptop (members from Australia, England and Germany) so that he could stay in contact. I don’t know that he ever got to use it as he went downhill pretty quickly. Whether he ever used it means nothing- none of us ever worried about that.

I rang his wife yesterday and it is now only a matter of days before he is buried with full military honours. I wish I had the composure and strength she has- God it has hurt seeing him slip away.

I don’t think he caught a break on one fucking thing- apart from his wife (pardon the language).

I feel disgusting that I have had things so easy compared to him.

2

I really feel for your loss. It’s always a tragic thing when you lose a friend, and sometimes the less you feel like you knew the person, the harder it hits you when you know he’s gone.

My condolences.

3

I’ve lost internet friends, all of them to cancer I think (strangely enough). One of the hard things is that it makes it difficult to grieve. Things are so upside down, you don’t end up with the sort of process that works for “in person” friends.

I’m sorry for your loss.