Meercat anniversary

[john welsford]

Its just over a year since Meercat left us. I miss the weekly SKYPE calls, the discussions and arguments, and the good humoured and informed discourse. It was rare to go more than a couple of days without an email, and saturday morning my time was normally chat time.

We had an ongoing game in which I was to design a little cruiser that he would build when he got well then sail off into the sunset and escape from all his troubles. It was never going to happen, we knew that, but we both enjoyed the fantasy.

The discussion though did lead to Swaggie and Sundowner, and lately I have been thinking of him while drawing the 13 ft Fafnir.

You could say that he lives on in his influence.

John Welsford

[John B]

So it does.:cool:

[S.V. Airlie]

Good thread..it is hard to believe that he has been gone so long. Life goes on granted...but what he wrote often was right on target.

[Hwyl]

Great tribute. He and I differed in our taste in boats, I'm more of a Pathfinder man. He was open to different opinions though.

[Concordia...41]

A year? Already? Dear goodness... in some ways it seems like just a few weeks ago.

His last words were, "I love you" and I, of course, responded, "I love you too" but I so admired his courage and ability express that sentiment.

[htom]

We miss you, David.

[boylesboats]

He is surely missed.. I just barely knew him. His posting is great to read, still are..

[Vince Brennan]

He's still missed. And always will be.

Fair winds, David.

[Lew Barrett]

Oh my. That was fast.

[Russ Manheimer]

Thanks for that John.

[Bob Adams]

I dredge up old treads of his from time to time. I miss the some times pain in the ass (said lovingly) I picture him now sailing with Norm.

[PeterSibley]

Bye Meer , I miss you , so does everyone !

[capt jake]

Oh my. That was fast.

Very fast.

Fair winds Meer.

[paladin]

every once in a while I clean out my mailbox.......still have most, if not all of Meerkat and Norm's stuff....just can't bring myself to delete it.....

[Mike Field]

.
Thanks for reminding us, John.

I'm like Chuck -- I clear out old messages except from people like Meer, Norm, and Das, which I hang on to and re-read from time to time for memory's sake.

[Lew Barrett]

A sad aspect of the change over from Sony's imagestation is how many photos are lost, including most of those of Meerkat. Anyway, in honor of this anniversary, a (very) few Meerkat-isms. I don't think I picked the best ones, by any stretch, just easy ones to find. Anybody remember the live running/punning conversations between Meerkat and Katherine? They used to keep me in stitches.

Meerkat-isms:

On The Bilge
The Bilge is like the Reader's Digest. All sorts of topical "articles", jokes and fun stories (like Tristan's bon mot about the boat launching and cell phone dropping circus, which prompted ths tread).
Of course, one gets more viewpoints, a wider range of topics, often better writing, and the subscription price can't be beat!

On Water Shortages
There's enough water - there are just too many people!

His Logo
If you don't think for yourself, someone else will do it for you!

Punning:
We await with baited breath (anchovies) the tale of your recent Poseidon adventure!


On What's Wrong With America:
IMO, the American disease is hubris.
Greed is the logical consequence of unrestrained competition.

Sound Familiar?
It is often not wise to be vulnerable on the forum, but here goes anyway.
There are times when I feel like I get ignored here. I don't need the attention, but it smarts when I post something that is important to me and I would hope worth discussing but goes largely ignored.
Ok, so let me have it, but please, be gentle.


On sex
What people do with their privates ought to be private.

There are tons more, but somebody else will need to dig them up.

[The Bigfella]

RIP mate

[Fitz]

http://inlinethumb53.webshots.com/41716/2231163300054321892S600x600Q85.jpg

[Ed Harrow]

Here's to Jason, David, and Meerkat - February is truly the cruelest month.

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

We exchanged a few emails and I'm not shy when he was in need I opened my checkbook as did Phil.

I miss the ol bastard, towards the end it was hard to talk to him on the phone. It reminded me so much of loosing my mom.

He did make me laugh though, when his voice was going from the radiation he would call and sounded just like Darth Vader and he would say "Joe I am your father " We would both crack up.

He was a honest good soul and I miss the man I never met in person.

Fair winds David.

ah what the hell one last time looking at this old video we all made for him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2Dg8ikc4Tw

[Tabitha ( Gaff rig girl )]

I never knew the man, but I have heard great things about him. I hope he's sailing in the clouds peacefully :(

[J. Dillon]

Gone to a better place "Fiddlers Green" :) where there's always fair winds and favorable currents.

JD

[Lew Barrett]

The best part of the Meerkat legend is that we were all together in it.

[Spin_Drift]

A year? Already? Dear goodness... in some ways it seems like just a few weeks ago.

His last words were, "I love you" and I, of course, responded, "I love you too" but I so admired his courage and ability express that sentiment.

So, so sorry Margo. It must be horrible to lose David, the man you love.
I loved your web pages and the story of how you got the boat. Now your loss brings me to tears.

*******************

I looked at the video you all made to Meerkat and can't help getting choked up.

I bow my head humbly to the man so much loved by so many. Rest in peace Meerkat...

[MiddleAgesMan]

Somehow I missed that video you guys made. It truly is a wonderful world.

We selected that same Iz masterpiece for my daughter's service a few weeks ago. Thanks for the link, Joe.

[sawcutmill]

Missing the words "Meerkat" usually posted, miss his style and sense of humor.God rest his soul.
Has anybody else missed some of the forumites that USED TO post here? re reading the meerkat posts made me realize how much things have changed from the old days ......have they been scared off by the new forumites? Until i re read these posts, i total forgot about such people as patcox, cs and the like....where are they now?

[Lew Barrett]

Until i re read these posts, i total forgot about such people as patcox, cs and the like....where are they now?

I'm writing this for the benefit of those who weren't here for Meerkat.
Everyone who knew the circumstances well and knew the 'Kat will probably have their own slant on it, but as a close observer, here's mine.

THE WELL. The town may be changed,
But the well cannot be changed.
It neither decreases nor increases.
They come and go and draw from the well.
If one gets down almost to the water
And the rope does not go all the way,
Or the jug breaks, it brings misfortune.

People come and go but the forum community endures. Pat and CS are still here and still posting. Most of the people that were part of the Meerkat saga are still here.

We shouldn't lionize David. David, like most of us, was a different and more complex person than can be drawn from his one liners.
David had a special affinity for the forum, and a special need for it too. He was a shut in. How else could you get to 30,000 posts? When people say the forum is boorish or nasty or a waste of time, I remember how so many people responded to Meerkat's problems. The forum adopted him.

David, for all his interesting insights and funny retorts, and for all his good mind could produce, could be an obstinate, messy, and sometimes inconsiderate person; a person with flaws and problems just like the rest of us. Meerkat's gift was his rapid fire mind and his intellectual curiosity. But he could be very stinging. The true beauty of the Meerkat saga was in the responses he received from people he'd never met and would never know.
I miss him as much as anybody here, and see him through the mists of passing time, but the fine people who cared for him, the compassionate core of the forum.....that's the thing I will remember
as the most perfect part of the Meerkat story. Many, many WBFers adopted this interesting but destitute person in need and gave unstintingly not only of their money, but of their time and care. Meerkat was the receiver, not the donor, worthy as he was of our care.

There is more to celebrate than to mourn here. I encourage people to remember their compassion the next time they think the forum is heartless and stupid. I will never forget it. Nobody asked if Meerkat was a liberal or a conservative. "Liberals" and "Conservatives" all gave equally. The labels and pretensions were stripped away. We had a mission that he was in a unique position to evoke. That was Meerkat's real gift to us. His cool one liners were the icing, not the content.

[Katherine]

I still think about him and I watching the Superbowl together on our respective TV's and bantering back and forth during the commercial breaks.:(:)

[Lew Barrett]

I've said this before, but one of the hooks of the forum for me was your late night banter here in real time with David. It was fun stuff to read, and funny.

[Spin_Drift]

I've said this before, but one of the hooks of the forum for me was your late night banter here in real time with David. It was fun stuff to read, and funny.

Katherine, Lew, -can you give me a link to those.... Might be great late night reading...:p:)

[Katherine]

From a superbowl past.:(

http://www.woodenboatvb.com/vbulletin/upload/showthread.php?t=47049&highlight=superbowl&page=3

[norseman]

Remember his post with the Mohammed drawings ?. Instantly censored ;)

[Christopher Locke]

I haven't frequented the forum for a number of months for a variety of reasons but that video brought tears to my eyes. Bless you guys.

Chris