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Thread: And yet another, Over the bar...

  1. #1
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    If anyone still has their parents, go visit them.
    I just lost my dad on 3/14 to the big C.
    He never visited here or owned a boat, but he loved to sail. And he never missed the opportunity for a ride on anything from old wooden boats to plastic marvels. I found out later, while I as off wasting my youth in '76, he was involved with OpSail in NYC...........and so it goes, I wised up a little late.
    He said to have a party, when he was out of here.
    And so, if you will raise a glass with me,
    (A Gin Martini, extra dry, no Vermouth )
    To:
    Don Higgins
    Writer
    Director
    Producer
    WWII Vet
    Jazz musician
    Painter
    Avid Golfer
    Boat lover and all around good man.
    Fair winds and following seas. Keep an eye out for us.
    -----G

  2. #2
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    So sorry. You have my condolences.

  3. #3
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    ..and mine, Greg.

    And here's to you, Don. God Bless.

    (A straight shot of Sapphire)

  4. #4
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    The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks:
    The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs: the deep
    Moans round with many voices. Come, my friends,
    'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.
    Push off, and sitting well in order smite
    The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
    To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
    Of all the western stars, until I die.

    ...

    We are not now that strength which in old days
    Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
    Of equal temper and heroic hearts,
    Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
    To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

    (Alfred, Lord Tennyson)

    Our hearty condolences, Greg...

    Alan

  5. #5
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    Alan's quote put my feelings nicely.

    Greg, I'm sorry for your loss... Don, here's to you.

    Bill

  6. #6
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    Sorry about your loss Greg.

    Chad
    There are three ways to do things: The right way, the wrong way and my way.

    Three Little Birds Love is My Religion

  7. #7
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    Greg,

    I'll be happy to raise a glass with you (soon as I get home.)

    Sincere condolences.

    Wayne

  8. #8
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    Aye, it's near two years since I lost my own father. I keenly feel your loss. Best wishes.

    Slainte, Don.

    -T

  9. #9
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    My Condolences to you Greg

  10. #10
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    ..
    "The hand feeds the mind."
    Weston Farmer

  11. #11

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    sorry to hear of youer lose...I still visit my folks right much.

  12. #12
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    Sincere sympathy, Greg.

  13. #13
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    Here's to you and to your father's memory. May the joy of the past suppress the sadness for what cannot be avoided.

    Best wishes, Greg.

    --Norm

  14. #14
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    Dear Greg, Here's to Don and all he was and is to you. Remember that he lives in you. Mike.

  15. #15
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    I just got off the phone with my Mum. I try to stay in pretty close contact, especially when we're having weather and she's all alone.

    My condolences. Somewhere I have an email from Dasboat talking about his main squeeze fixing him a martini. "There is the land of the living, there is the land of the dead. The only bridge between them is love"

    [ 03-20-2002, 10:10 PM: Message edited by: Ed Harrow ]
    MAKE WAY! MAKE WAY! "I have heard of some kind of men that put quarrels purposely on others."

    As a general rule, the better it felt when you said it, the more trouble it's going to get you into.

    International Financial Conspirator, Collaborator, Gun Runner, Ace Philosopher-King and all-around smartie pants

  16. #16
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    my condolences...lost my dad the same way....
    Chuck
    Wakan Tanka Kici Un
    ..a bad day sailing is a heckuva lot better than the best day at work.....
    Fighting Illegal immigration since 1492....
    Live your life so that whenever you lose, you're ahead."
    "If you live life right, death is a joke as far as fear is concerned."

  17. #17
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    Greg, prayers and bestwishes to you and yours.
    "And look at Elias Wonder. Yeah, take a gander at that buzzard. Forty years ago he was happy, generous, charitable, tall, dark and handsome. Then he took up the fly rod. Now consider him. Uglier than fresh road kill. Evil-eyed, cantankerous, sullen, mean. An anti-social misfit that causes a groundswell of spleen wherever he goes."
    -- Harry Middleton

  18. #18
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    he's not gone only just around the next corner watching out for you.

  19. #19
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    Greg, much love from down under. My dad's 94 and still fishing but mum passed on a few months ago. It brings it all back. I get more upset now than at the time. Name a boat after him, mine's called "Felicity".

  20. #20
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    Greg,

    Sorry to hear the news. It sounds like you had a good relationship with your Dad, especially after your wasting youth thing. That's great!

    When my Dad died from cancer I mourned the relationship we could have had. I am closer to my boys, probably because of it.

    My prayers are with you and all who are touched by the loss.
    Randy

  21. #21
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    My prayers and condolences, Greg.
    Await dreams, loves, life; | There is always tomorrow. | Until there is not.

    Grieving love unsaid. | Tomorrow will fail someday. | Tell them today, OK?

  22. #22
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    Im gonna break out a wee dram of port Ive been holding back... since Darryl went over... and inbibe a small tot to his memory.

    Best memories are now yours to cherish.

    To Don Higgins!

    Take it easy
    Shane
    .................................................. ...................
    Nil illegitimi carborundum = Never let the bastards wear you down

  23. #23
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    To Don....

  24. #24
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    Aye, To Don
    "Now Ron,don't you do anything stupid!" - Grandma B.

  25. #25
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    Said well Greg, My condolences to you and your family.

  26. #26
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    Smile

    Thanks friends.
    He was at home with mom, the dog and music, hope we are all as lucky.
    Roger: My mom said that he was played over with a Cherokee flute by someone from the hospice, I haven't met him yet, but I will.
    Peace, Greg

    Support your local Hospice, good people there.

  27. #27
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    Unhappy

    Greg,
    So sorry about your Dad. I will go in the office next door and say hello and good morning again. I just can't imagine him not being there, and yet we argue so often as if we take it for granted.

    God bless, Mr. Higgins.

    -Matt

  28. #28
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    Greg, my condolences at the loss of your dad. For a moment I was wondering if our dads may have crossed paths at one time as my dad (& whole family) was quite involved in Op Sail '76 also. My thoughts will be with you.

  29. #29
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    It's odd how we spend our teens angry with them...wishing they'd get out of our way so we could be free.
    Then they're gone.
    And they're no longer there when we finally get humble enough to ask what to do next or how did they deal with this or that.
    When they're gone we become orphans of a sort.
    Then we get to watch our sons do the same.
    Life has odd sad twists....
    No individual rain-drop thinks it\'s responsible for the flood.

  30. #30
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    Originally posted by TomRobb:
    It's ...Then we get to watch our sons do the same. ...
    And daughters...
    MAKE WAY! MAKE WAY! "I have heard of some kind of men that put quarrels purposely on others."

    As a general rule, the better it felt when you said it, the more trouble it's going to get you into.

    International Financial Conspirator, Collaborator, Gun Runner, Ace Philosopher-King and all-around smartie pants

  31. #31
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    Especially daughters . . .



    Wayne

  32. #32
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    What Greg said about hospice. Wise words. Its a good thing and a comfort. A gentle way to be rowed to the other shore. Peace to all. Mike.

  33. #33
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    It's sad to lose our loved ones. But your memories of the good times with them will always be with you. Time does heal.

    JD
    Senior Ole Salt # 650

  34. #34
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    Greg-
    I'm so sorry to hear that your Dad has passed on. The others on the list have spoken their hearts and eloquently. Losing a parent is very hard. Been there, done that. Sounds like he wanted your remembrance of this to be as a celebration of his life. That's a nice thing. Keep the story of his life alive by sharing it with family and friends--perhaps not right now, but when the pain abates enough. And yes, he lives on in you genetically, and in your psyche. In that respect he's not so very far away at all.

    I have just poured my martini into the glass.
    To Don!

  35. #35
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    Peace.

  36. #36
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    .
    The lyfe so short, the craft so long to lerne — Chaucer

  37. #37
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    We older guys know how it is, and we feel for you. Just took the gin out of the reefer, poured it neat, washed the olive and ate it (never plunk it into the gin), and raised a toast to your dad. The last drop goes in the lake.

  38. #38
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    I just saw this Greg, I'm sorry to hear of your loss. Everyone is a unique blend of experiences and memories and sad to lose, but a loss of a parent is especially hard.
    Recovering Atheist

  39. #39
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    Sorry, Greg. March 25 was thirty years since my father died in a car accident. It left a hole in my life and a bunch of open questions were made permanantly unanswered. They say that sons never really grow up until their fathers are dead. I think its true. It was for me, anyway.

  40. #40
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    "Do not go gentle into that good night:
    Rage, rage, against the dying of the light."

    (Dylan Thomas)

    Another way to look at it...

    Alan

    [ 03-27-2002, 02:52 PM: Message edited by: Alan D. Hyde ]

  41. #41
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    Wakan Tanka Kici Un
    ..a bad day sailing is a heckuva lot better than the best day at work.....
    Fighting Illegal immigration since 1492....
    Live your life so that whenever you lose, you're ahead."
    "If you live life right, death is a joke as far as fear is concerned."

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