Goodbye, Friend

WombatWoman

Diamond Member
Feb 19, 2000
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The death of a loved one always leaves a helpless, empty feeling for a while.

I have known and loved Carol Ann for forty years. We were moody, lonely teenagers when we met, and we grew through everything together, through all the changes: marriages, births, divorces, birthdays and baptisms. We were always at each other's side.

And now she has gone on without me.

It grieves me that I could not attend Carol's funeral. I have one last gift for her, a poem. I can't share this with Carol. But I can share it with other friends, and due to my life circumstances, almost all of my other friends are right here in the AnandTech Off Topic Forum. I will never meet you face to face, but you are more vivid to me than many of the walking shadows who pass through my so-called "real" life.

The death of a loved one leaves a hole, a void where something belongs. We can try to fill in the hole by weeping into it, but our tears will never be enough. I poured this poem in, and it was better than tears, and now I can let go.

~For Carol, with Love, from Jean~
 

Perknose

Forum Director & Omnipotent Overlord
Forum Director
Oct 9, 1999
46,685
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Damn, Jean, Death sucks the hairy hard one. :(:(:(

Thanks for your poem.

 

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
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Ouch, that's painfully sad.

I bet you guys had some wild times together. When you're feeling up to it, would you please share a story of one of those times?

So sorry, Jean.
 

Azraele

Elite Member
Nov 5, 2000
16,524
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Sad and beautiful tribute.
Dealing with death is so hard. :( If you'd like to talk, just shoot me an e-mail.

*Hugs*
 

GrumpyMan

Diamond Member
May 14, 2001
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Beautiful poem WW, don't despair she's with you now and will be forever.
 

Isla

Elite member
Sep 12, 2000
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May she rest in the arms of angels (really hunky ones! :) ) until you meet again.
 

WombatWoman

Diamond Member
Feb 19, 2000
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<< I bet you guys had some wild times together. When you're feeling up to it, would you please share a story of one of those times? >>

Gladly. Thanks for asking. It's great to remember my nutty buddy and the fun we had. :)

There was the time when Carol and I decided to draw each other's portraits in pastel chalk on a sidewalk in a public park. It was nighttime, but the park was brightly lit. We were scribbling away on the concrete, and these two good-looking guys came up and started a conversation. They admired our artwork, and said that they would like for Carol and me to do their portraits. They offered us $20 each (which was a lot of money in the late 1960s.)

The only catch: these guys wanted us to go to their hotel room to do the portraits. They told us their names were Dave and Harry, and they said they were hairstylists in town for a convention. My bullsh!t detector went off full blast, but Carol, a trusting soul, was more than eager to go to a hotel with some strange men who claimed that they wanted to pay for portraiture. The guys told us their hotel room number and left, and Carol and I had one of the only shouting matches of our long friendship. She insisted that everything was cool, that these were fine fellows who only wanted a couple of quickie pastel portraits. Uh huh, I said, the quickie part sounds about right, ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND? Carol, in a snit, said that if I didn't want to come along, that was fine; she would go to the hotel alone.

I couldn't let her do that. I had read too many serial killer novels.

So the two of us drove off in my 1968 VW Beetle, heading for the alleged hairdressers' lair in a fairly decent hotel near the Tulsa International Airport. All the way to the hotel, we were still arguing about whether or not this was a good idea. I told Carol she was a cockeyed optimist who wouldn't know trouble if it ran screaming down Main Street and bit her on the ass. Carol told me I was a mistrustful cynic who would never have any fun unless I let go of my fears and lived a little.

Well, to make a long story short, we arrived at the hotel room around eleven o'clock at night, carrying all our art supplies in duffel bags. Carol knocked on the door, which was slightly ajar (boy, did my BS detectors ever honk at that!) Dave and Harry's voices, from inside, told us to come on in.

We stepped in, then immediately stepped out again and headed rapidly for the car.

Inside the hotel room, good old Dave and Harry were buck naked, and so were their two friends who were also wanting "portraits."

Carol never again questioned my judgment in such matters. ;)
 

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
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  • But, but... why did you run away? :confused:


I wanna hear the stories about the buck naked sittings you did paint! :p
 

WombatWoman

Diamond Member
Feb 19, 2000
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<< I wanna hear the stories about the buck naked sittings you did paint! :p >>

OK, but it's gonna cost you $20. :D
 

sheselectric

Golden Member
Mar 6, 2002
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that's a great memory. sounds like the memories i have with a lot of my college friends. i'm really sorry to hear about your loss. :(
 

Lucky

Lifer
Nov 26, 2000
13,126
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LOL WW, that story was very funny. :) Reminds me that laughter and joy, even if you are doing it alone, can overcome grief and sorrow. ;)
 

FettsBabe

Diamond Member
Oct 21, 1999
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:) Don't be sad. Your friend has moved on and is anxiously awaiting you on the other side and when you get there they may be nice buck naked men who want their picture painted in pastels! She is out of pain and is in a much better place with God. You can't be sad when you look at it this way. Love ya WW.
 

bizmark

Banned
Feb 4, 2002
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great poem. Made me all teary.

IMO "condolences" or "sympathies" sent by typing into a computer leave much to be desired. But I offer them anyway. :(