And now for something completely different. Any WI/MN DUers planning to go to Jackpine Radical's

[scarletwoman]

memorial this Saturday? Details here: http://www.pedersonvolker.com/obituary.phtml/E780EA29/james_m_peterson/

I plan on going, however I'm hoping that I won't be the only DUer there. I've been hoping other DUers would also be planning on going and that we could meet each other and share our condolences to his wife as a group.

How about it?

[calimary]

1. I wish I could go.

Even though I didn't know him well, you'll still be representing me.

Thank you for this, scarlet woman.

[scarletwoman]

2. I'll be happy to represent you.

It's about a 2-1/2 hour drive for me, but I really want to do it.

I met him in person a couple of times some years back, and I've been friends with him since the early days of DU. I sort of can't NOT go.

[KoKo]

7. Too far away...if you can go...please carry our "Spirits"......and good wishes and that

his thoughts remain with us........

I think he might know this ...wherever he is....

I don't want you to be the soul (literally) carrier of our wishes...but, if its GOOD VIBES...the wind will be with you for GOOD! Not burdened down by SORROW...but, to Represent the Good Thoughts and Wishes for him, wherever he is that ....SO MANY CARED about him and wish him well in his "New Venture" beyond what we could know.

[scarletwoman]

15. Not to worry - I will definitely bring everyone's good wishes with me.

I'll print out everyone's responses to this thread.

[KoKo]

22. Thanks!

's

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Clearly on the other side of the country

but I surely wish I could be there.

[scarletwoman]

5. Yes, it would be a bit of a drive for you...

In any case, my thanks for helping kick this thread!

[PeaceNikki]

4. I would love to, I wish it were closer...

[scarletwoman]

8. I'm lucky that it's not too far for me.

It'll be happy to bring along messages from those who can't make it.

[PeaceNikki]

9. It's about 3 hours for me, do-able so I am thinking about it.

[scarletwoman]

13. If you do decide to go, please let me know so we can work out a way to meet each other!

I'm thinking I'll bring along a sticker to paste on my shirt that says "DU" - so any other DUer's there will get it and get with me.

[PeaceNikki]

14. Will so. Do you expect to be there for the duration or....?

[scarletwoman]

17. Yes, definitely for the duration.

As far as I'm concerned, it will be a day well spent.

And if other DUers can make it, I'd be happy to spend time with them afterward, too!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. Many of us will be there with you in spirit, my dear scarletwoman...

[scarletwoman]

11. I know. :) As I said above, I'll be happy to bring along messages from those who can't be there.

I'd love to be able to go as a sort of emmissary of DU - and give his wife Carla a bunch of messages from the DUers who loved him.

[TBF]

63. If you'd like to print it out -

this is one of my favorite posts from Jim so I made it sort of a tribute in the socialists group: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10248778

A good and great man as they say. I will miss his extraordinary wit, free spirit, and kindness.

[HassleCat]

10. Wish I could go

I really admired his posts, which I though always reflected a real sense of humanity. I was going to see if we could meet up for coffee when I came through in July, but that's not happening. Some people, you feel you know, even though you've never met them, and JPR was one of those people.

[scarletwoman]

18. I had the good fortune of meeting him in person. He's always been a very special friend to me.

He was exactly who he was in his posts. Compassionate, extremely intelligent, and extremely insightful.

[LWolf]

12. If I could get there from here, I would.

I'm sorry that I can't, but I'll be there in spirit.

[scarletwoman]

19. Thank you. I'll carry your spirit with me.

[malaise]

16. I'd love to be there

He was a good man and a great DUer

[scarletwoman]

20. Yes, he WAS a great DUer!

I know you're far away, so I'll be glad to carry your love for him with me.

[malaise]

24. Please do

His death was quite a shock

[scarletwoman]

25. Yes it was. So painful.

Such a great loss...

[RKP5637]

21. His passing on really shook me up, it was just so unexpected. I've always enjoyed his posts

and we corresponded several times. He was so well educated and so perceptive, it was just a joy reading his posts. I will definitely be there in spirit!

[scarletwoman]

23. Thank you for your lovely post.

He was a wonderful man, I'm still feeling devastated by the loss of him...

[merrily]

26. I cannot, but bless you for going. What a wonderful man.

[scarletwoman]

31. Yes, he was a wonderful man!

I'll bring your good wishes with me.

[merrily]

35. Yes, please do. I changed my sig to the one he created as soon as I learned he'd passed.

I enjoyed his posts so incredibly much. Best puns ever too.

I was so very fond of his fonts. Amazing how that happens, isn't it?

[Scuba]

27. Perhaps. I'm a couple hours away, but would be humbled to honor Jim and meet other DUers.

I've been really, really busy, but will try. Please stay tuned.

[scarletwoman]

30. Oh, I'd be SO delighted if you could come!

I'd so love to meet you!!!!

I've already printed out my map and driving directions - as I said, it'll be about a 2-1/2 hour drive for me, but the route goes through some lovely country, so I don't mind at all.

Do feel free to DUmail me as the date draws closer!

I'm so glad to hear from you - you're one of the people I was hoping would see this thread!

[WillyT]

28. If Your Going... Could Do Me A Favor...

Give His Loved Ones A Huge Hug For Me.

[scarletwoman]

32. Yes, I will. Thank you.

I'll make sure his family and friends know how much Jackpine Radical meant to all of us.

[riderinthestorm]

29. Just mapped it - 4.5 hours one way so I'm out. I'll be with you in spirit

[scarletwoman]

34. Thank you. Yeah, you're rather far away.

I guess I'm lucky, it's not so far for me, so it works okay for me. I will definitely bring along all the well wishes from those who can't make it.

[Solly Mack]

33. K&R

[scarletwoman]

36. Thanks!

[awoke_in_2003]

37. I wish I could...

he was one of my favorite DUers. He will be missed.

[scarletwoman]

38. Well, getting there from Texas would be a bit of a drive.

Yes, he will be missed...

[awoke_in_2003]

42. Thanks for going

and sharing DUs feeling with his family

[madfloridian]

39. Way too far away to go..but there in spirit. Obit was lovely but sad.

He was such a special person.

[scarletwoman]

40. Yeah, Florida would be a bit of a drive, also.

Yes, he was a very special person. I knew him IRL as well on DU. That's why I especially want to go to his memorial. He wasn't just pixels on a screen, he was a living, breathing human being that I talked to face-to-face.

[Lithos]

41. Wish I could...

Too far for me to go...

Would love for whoever does make it to provide a report. Also to pass along the well wishes of all from DU.

L-

[scarletwoman]

43. I will print this thread and bring it with me.

And I will post about the memorial after I get home.

[Lithos]

45. That would be wonderful

Thank you very much!

L-

[Starry Messenger]

44. Please give his family all my love.

I wish I wasn't in CA. Thank you for representing us there.

[scarletwoman]

50. I'll do my best to represent my fellow DUers.

Thanks for your post.

[blondie58]

46. Unfortunately no!

Too far away and i am Sitting Here with ICE in my ankle. Fractured my fibula.

Please Give all my greetings and well wishes, please.

[scarletwoman]

52. Wishing you a swift and easy healing!

So sorry about your fracture!

Yes, I will certainly bring yours, and everyone else's, well wishes!

[blondie58]

79. Thank you, Scarletwoman!

I always have Been a Klutz, but this was Bad! I have a Cast now, just have to wait for it to heal. 🌹

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

47. I'm about an 30 minutes away.

I'm thinking about it.

[scarletwoman]

48. Let me know! I'd be happy to meet you!

I'm hoping it will be a nice day for a drive. I'd love it if some other DUers show up to represent.

And if I can meet another DUer or two in the bargain, so much the better!

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

51. Yeah, that would be great.

I might have to make a slight rearrangement of my schedule. I'll let you know.

[scarletwoman]

53. Feel free to PM me. nt

[2banon]

49. Wish I could be there, thank you for going.

and please let her know how much he was respected here by so many of us. I personally loved reading his posts, they were eloquent and deliciously to the point. It was really hard for me to digest the news of his passing seemingly quite soon after a fairly vibrant dialogue on du.

He is missed.

[scarletwoman]

54. "He is missed" - yes, so very much!

I will do my best to express how much DU misses him.

[G_j]

55. too far away,

but my heart will be there, thank you for doing this, whatever one might think of DU, there are real human beings here, and through time, a certain sense of community. Jackpine Radical helped make it real, because he was real! Even out here in the ethers, we miss him as a real person, as we loved him.

[scarletwoman]

56. I knew Jackpine Radical as a "real" person, so this is particularly personal for me.

But I completely understand how he was "real' to so many other DUers who never met him.

Yes, we would do well to keep in mind that every DUer is a "real" person. Let us treat each other with kindness, even when we disagree.

[scarletwoman]

57. Bedtime kick...

[Blue_In_AK]

58. Too far away, my dear,

but please give my condolences to his family. It's a great loss.

[scarletwoman]

65. Yes, you are without a doubt too far away.

I will certainly pass on your condolences.

[Half-Century Man]

59. I'm trying hard to pull it off

3.5 hours from me. If I get a check I'm waiting for....

[scarletwoman]

66. That's a very long drive.

It would be great to meet you, but please don't sweat it if you can't make it. Your heart will be there, I'm sure.

[Contrary1]

60. When one of our online friends passed away from breast cancer...

I was the only one who was able to attend his (Yes, men do get breast cancer) funeral. Other members posted memories and tributes, which I copied and made into a book to present to the family.

I did not even have to announce myself...they seemed to already know that I was there to represent the friends this brave man had made along his journey. The book was much appreciated.

Just an idea.

[scarletwoman]

68. It's a lovely idea. I've intended to print this thread to bring along,

however now I'm thinking I should maybe start a new thread specifically for DUers to post their "memories and tributes". Hmm...

[lovemydog]

61. Dear friends and family of Jackpine Radical:

He was a kind and wonderful mainstay of Democratic Underground.

We loved him very much for his quick wit and the courage of his convictions. We laughed with him a lot and we learned a lot from him. We loved his photographs. We appreciate his service and especially his strong work for peace.

To you his family and loved ones we extend our deepest sympathies.

We wish you all who were fortunate to know him in person all the best.

[scarletwoman]

69. Beautiful! I'll be sure to print this and bring it along. nt

[scarletwoman]

62. Morning kick - before I leave for work...

[Dont call me Shirley]

64. I will be there in Spirit. Jackpine Radical will be remembered as a Good Human Being.

We are all better people simply by being in his presence, in person or online.

With his family I grieve.

[scarletwoman]

70. Thank you. That's lovely.

I'll bring it with me.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

67. Unfortunately, I have to be somewhere else at that time

[scarletwoman]

71. I'm sorry to hear that.

I would have loved to see you again! It's been way too many years!

Thank you anyway, I'm glad you saw this thread and I'm glad to hear from you!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

72. This post of yours is your #28,000!

Congratulations on your milestone!

[scarletwoman]

73. Too funny! I probably wouldn't have noticed for a couple of weeks or so.

One day I'd look at my post count and think, "Hey I passed 28,00! Wonder when that happened?"

I'm so slow. I've been here since mid-2001 and a measley 28,000 post count is all I've got to show for it - it's almost embarrassing.

I know I've told this story before, but I'll go ahead and tell it again:

When I first joined DU, Jackpine Radical was already here, but not that long before me. With a little back and forth between us, we soon became fast DU friends. Back then, the first big milestone was joining "The 700 Club", when you reached 700 posts. Everybody teased everybody about it. And we all raced to get to 800. Jackpine beat me in that race, and continually teased me about it until I finally hit my own 800.

The next big milestone was 1,000 posts. All us early DUers were really excited about reaching that point - 1,000 posts! It seemed like an amazing feat on this brand new forum! Jackpine and I were neck and neck in the race to reach 1,000. And I WON! And teased him about every chance I got for years afterward.

Of course, as the years went by he totally out-paced me in post count, and I fell further and further back. I stayed relatively inactive posting-wise for a lot of years, although I've been here almost every dang day of the entire 14 years since I joined. I just sort of drifted into the background, content with reading and rec'ing posts but not feeling like saying much.

So, 28,000 (now 28,001). That's about 200 posts a year - not very much. Oh well...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

74. Now, you know damn well, it's not just how many!

It's also the quality of those posts.

Yours are golden, my dear scarletwoman...

Congrats!

[scarletwoman]

75. Dear Peggy, you are so very kind.

You've brought a big smile to my face.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

78. I'm glad you're smiling...

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

76. I'll be thinking of JR - one of my favorite DUers.

I'm in Minneapolis, not too far away, but I can't make it on Saturday. But I'll be thinking of him. Please give my condolences to his family.

[scarletwoman]

77. I'm sorry you won't be able to make it - for selfish reasons, I'd love to meet you!

Yes, I will definitely convey your condolences. Thank you!