Did anyone else get the email from Carolyn Maloney

[mmonk]

about the passing of her husband? He passed away a happy man about having climbed the summit of Cho Oyu Mountain.
His last words before going to sleep at Base Camp 2 were: "I'm the happiest man in the world--I've just summited a beautiful mountain." He never woke up.

Thought I would share it.

[Libertas1776]

1. Well,

at least the last thing he ever did made him happiest man in the world, and then drifted off, hopefully peacefully, in his sleep. I would sure like to go that way.

[mmonk]

3. Yes. No panic or apprehension.

[CTyankee]

2. I am SO sorry for his wife but happy for him. I'll bet that she knew something like this COULD

happen and wanted him to be happy. It's nice. I know that my hubby doesn't like to do what I do on some vacations. He knows I am crazy for art. I go to Europe each year on an art intensive and he stays at home...

[mmonk]

4. Yes, I'm sorry for her loss.

He made most of the descent (23,000 ft) to Base Camp 2. But it seems he was happy and at peace.

[CTyankee]

5. Sometimes you have to make your peace with what you've got.

It comes down to that. I wasn't there when my brother died suddenly and I feel so terrible but I was a long way away (he was in Texas and I was in Connecticut). I was due to visit in one week so I missed him by that much. A sudden death can take loved ones so fast you don't have a chance to be there and say goodbye...thank god I could do that with my mother 10 months after my brother died...a peaceful and gentle death that I could help arrange in the hospital with a staff that was respectful of my wishes and helpful to my family.

[mmonk]

6. True.

When my father passed away, I had gone home for the night after preparing to stay at the hospital the following nights. I got the call when I had just gotten into bed that he passed away. That was a little of a jolt as the Doctor didn't seem to think he was in any immediate danger that night. I learned and came to peace with the fact you cannot beat yourself up about it.

[CTyankee]

10. I was comforted by the fact that the staff at my brother's nursing home was

full of good people, wonderful people. I had met many of them on my previous visits and my brother was actually very happy there. His two prior strokes had driven out some of his private devils, miraculously. I went to the nursing home to take his things and went around to each staff person who had helped my brother. I could not thank them enough. I invited all of them to his graveside service and I mentioned them all by name in the eulogy and thanked them again (altho none of them could make it to the service since they were working). It really helped...

[BurtWorm]

7. Are you in her district?

I was until 2002, I guess, when they moved me over to Charlie Rangel's. I was not impressed with her as a representative, but I was sorry to hear about her husband.

And if she runs against Gillibrand, I'll probably support her.

[mmonk]

8. Actually no. I support Democrats in different areas of the country.

I do so to help them maintain their seats. So many email me.

[TreasonousBastard]

9. Did she mention that Clifton was...

a vice president of Goldman Sachs until he started his own investment firm in 1981?

Personally, it means little to me but with all the wailing and gnashing of teeth over Wall Street tycoons around here, I'm wondering where the obligatory complaints about his profession and wealth are.

But, yeah, he died happy, which is probably the best way.

[mmonk]

11. Your last sentence was the reason for my post.