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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI lost my oldest friend.
He was 69. Terry and I grew up across the street from each other in a quiet residential neighborhood. He once said that his first memory of me was when I asked him how old he was. After consulting his mother, he reported, "I'm 4." I was either 4 or 5 at the time as I was 8 months older than he. Apparently, he was diagnosed with COPD and COVID. The last time I saw him was just before the pandemic hit.
I blame the former guy. If he had taken his job seriously, Terry might still be with us.
FSogol
(45,490 posts)50 Shades Of Blue
(10,011 posts)brer cat
(24,578 posts)It must be even more painful when it could have been avoided by caring and competence.
babylonsister
(171,073 posts)In_The_Wind
(72,300 posts)Rest in peace, Terry.
XanaDUer2
(10,685 posts)MuseRider
(34,111 posts)Losing anyone is hard but family and close childhood friends (to me they are family too) are so hard.
I am sorry, that is such a precious story.
Nevilledog
(51,122 posts)malaise
(269,057 posts)phylny
(8,380 posts)IbogaProject
(2,816 posts)sorry to hear, take care, it is ok to grieve.
StevieM
(10,500 posts)cate94
(2,811 posts)IrishAfricanAmerican
(3,816 posts)blm
(113,065 posts)Blanks
(4,835 posts)I lost a high school friend last year. The symptoms reported by his girlfriend on Facebook sounded like the COVID, but there was never an official statement that was the cause of death.
He was a dyed in the wool Trumper, I hadnt seen him since 2003, but he was only in his early 60s. I figured wed drink a beer together again one day and look back on this difficult era.
ailsagirl
(22,897 posts)AllaN01Bear
(18,261 posts)area51
(11,911 posts)niyad
(113,350 posts)mgardener
(1,817 posts)zbird
(1,595 posts)BobTheSubgenius
(11,564 posts)A deeply personal story still hits much harder than all the statistics, so it seems Stalin was at least partially right.
No one would blame you if you were frustrated to the point of anger. Or even deeper.
LudwigPastorius
(9,155 posts)An old friend of mine died Sunday night of an apparent heart attack. He was just 55 and had a 17 year old daughter.
I can't imagine what she's going through.
MLAA
(17,298 posts)So sorry. How amazing to have a friend for 64 years. How sad to lose him unnecessarily.
littlemissmartypants
(22,695 posts)For Terry
For you
❤
Ilsa
(61,695 posts)I lost a family member to COVID-19. I think this person needed to be frightened out of risky behaviors by hearing those words trump said to Bob Woodward, instead of hearing it was fake.
twodogsbarking
(9,759 posts)to have a friend that you had for so long.
leftyladyfrommo
(18,868 posts)like a ton of bricks.
It's been 4 months since he died and I still don't have a handle on it. His family and friends are still completely devastated.
Time does help.
acg
(217 posts)LOSS BETRAYS US
By Al Garcia
There are no words that can alleviate the pain of loss. It is profound and overpowering and at times overwhelming to the mind and to the heart. It is a betrayal of time and even faith at times.
At times like this we question why? Why did he have to go so soon, or now? There was so much left unsaid and even more that was left undone. Why was he taken before I had a chance to tell him how much he meant to me? Or, did he already know?
A friend is a gift that no heart can soon forget. The memories shared, the joys revealed, the secretes kept and even the struggles and the clashes of childhood and beyond, all connect to the totality of the uniqueness of the boy and the man that he became.
To have been a part of him and to have grown beside the shadow of his life helped, I am sure, to define who you yourself became. You walked along the highways and byways of life in shared company and in harmony. You are now one part less the person than you used to be, because he chose to follow yet another road alone.
His loss betrayed you. His loss, I am sure, overwhelmed you. Yet, your life will go on, I know, and I also know that you will continue to walk the road before you alone. Someday, some time, when you reach that bend along the road that beacons you, you may finally know why loss betrays us, but until that day, you must continue your journey without your friends shadow.
MiHale
(9,737 posts)pandr32
(11,588 posts)One can still have a whole lot of get up and go and a future ahead of them at 69. I am so sorry for the loss of an almost lifelong friend. The former guy needs to be held accountable for the loss of so many people and the hole it has left in our lives.
yardwork
(61,650 posts)William Gustafson
(298 posts)I lost my wife on Valentines day of this year. she was my best friend for over 25 years, so I know how you feel. Today is three months exactly since she lost her battle with a brain tumor and stroke. I was with her throughout her ordeal and watch her pass. The pain is still fresh and the lost feeling is still raw. I know that we will be together someday, and that brings me comfort so I can move forward. Seek out friends and family to help you with your loss... It will get better, I promise. May God bless you and help you through all of this.