# My best friend died Wednesday. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 24, 2005, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-died-wednesday/309746 "2005-06-24T23:07:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2005, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-died-wednesday/309746/1 "2005-06-24T23:07:37Z")
**Michael S. Motsinger August 27, 1955–June 22, 2005** He was found slumped over the steering wheel in his truck at a local catfishing place. I got the phone call from his ex-wife, of all people. I had known him for about 15 years. We worked together, fished together, went target shooting together, and I probably know more about him than anyone else does. We joked about being Mot & Nott. He regarded me as a guiding force in his life. He said I talked him out of doing stupid and crazy things. That’s true, I guess, but I wish I’d been better at it. He had five heart attacks over a period of years, and he’d had bypass and heart valve surgery. About a week ago, he had a stroke. I really wonder if that was the first one. He knew death had him on a short leash, and I often dreaded the idea that I might be there at the end. Now, for brief moments, I think it would have been better if I’d been there. Since I retired, I have been more and more isolated, and aside from my wife, he was my only close friend. I’m doing okay, I guess. Now and then, though, I think about something he was going to help me do, and I remember I’ll never see him again. I miss him. Goodbye, Mot. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2005, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-died-wednesday/309746/2 "2005-06-24T23:10:08Z")
So sorry for your loss, **AskNott**. It’s hard losing friends, but it’s great to acknowledge how enriched our lives are because of them. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2005, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-died-wednesday/309746/3 "2005-06-24T23:43:39Z")
I’m sorry for your loss. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2005, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-died-wednesday/309746/4 "2005-06-25T00:47:22Z")
Ahh, crud…way too young to go. You’ve got my sympathies. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Nic2004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4491bb/32.png) [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2005, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-died-wednesday/309746/5 "2005-06-25T00:54:26Z")
I am so very sorry. I have lost far too many close friends. I understand and I’m truly sorry. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2005, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-died-wednesday/309746/6 "2005-06-25T00:56:16Z")
There is really little that can be said to ease your pain . Please accept my deepest sympathy . It is obvious you cared a great deal for him . Anna ---
**Author:** ![CateAyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@CateAyo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CateAyo)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2005, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-died-wednesday/309746/7 "2005-06-25T01:00:40Z")
I know so very well how you feel. May 6 marked a year that my best friend, my drummer, my partner in crime, passed. I am told that after some time, one remembers with pain. I know I’m not there. I miss him terribly. Email me if I can help. Hawk ---
**Author:** ![CateAyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@CateAyo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CateAyo)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2005, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-died-wednesday/309746/8 "2005-06-25T01:01:50Z")
“without pain”, i meant to say. damned hard to see what you’re typing with tears in your eyes. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2005, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-died-wednesday/309746/9 "2005-06-25T02:09:53Z")
My condolences on your loss. It sounds like you probably made his last years a lot fuller and happier by being such a good friend to him. ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2005, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-died-wednesday/309746/10 "2005-06-25T02:23:00Z")
I’m so sorry for your loss. GT ---
**Author:** ![The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_King_of_Soup)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2005, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-died-wednesday/309746/11 "2005-06-25T03:06:17Z")
I am very sorry for your loss. May you be sustained by your memories of him and by the comfort of those who love you. –Maurice. ---
**Author:** ![Izzybella](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e56c9b/32.png) [@Izzybella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Izzybella)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2005, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-died-wednesday/309746/12 "2005-06-25T16:04:00Z")
Very sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2005, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-died-wednesday/309746/13 "2005-06-25T16:11:17Z")
I am so sorry. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2005, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-died-wednesday/309746/14 "2005-06-25T17:15:48Z")
I am very sorry for your loss. I hope your memories help with the pain you are feeling. As long as he is in your heart, he is never really gone. ---
**Author:** ![Penchan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@Penchan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penchan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2005, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-died-wednesday/309746/15 "2005-06-25T18:44:45Z")
I hope you will be able to get through this and remember all the fun times with him after the sadness and grief. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-died-wednesday/309746/16 "2005-06-25T19:37:03Z")
We’re all sorry. Try to be happy for the time you had, and for getting to know him in the first place. Remember the good times. Remember what you meant to each other. Don’t regret that you weren’t there at the end. Don’t wish you had been better at talking him out of things - you were obviously quite good enough. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2005, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-died-wednesday/309746/17 "2005-06-25T19:46:53Z")
What sad news. You sound like a good friend. Don’t waste time with regrets. I bet he wouldn’t approve. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2005, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-died-wednesday/309746/18 "2005-06-25T22:14:04Z")
Way too young. You do sound like a good friend. I’m so sorry. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2005, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-died-wednesday/309746/19 "2005-06-25T23:04:51Z")
I am sorry for your loss. Is there a way for you to remember him? Catfishing contest or something? Is there a way for you to personally recognize him in a lasting way? Just trying to help. \ but I know that not much does help. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2005, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-died-wednesday/309746/20 "2005-06-25T23:09:16Z")
This sucks. I know how you feel. When I was younger, my best friend had a hole in his heart. Literally. It killed him. Soon afterwards, I had a problem dealing with it, and carried on as usual, until I came down with huge sobbing crying jags. Then, I was back to normal. Repeat two days later. Rinse, and repeat. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-best-friend-died-wednesday/309746.md?page=2)