News of our beloved Al -- sent from his wife, Eileen

[rif]

Such sad news, my deepest condolences to Eileen and all the family.

Rif

[Dirty Don]

OK, I've settled some, enough to get this out of my system and on board...it helps...

Ode for Al:

Melancholia Musica

Pining boughs among wayward winds

Skyward above verdancy supreme,

Waftings of briny bottle green seas

And the simple music of the forests.

Tell me, Tell me true...

Is this me, or is this you?

Rubbled roads wound in the islands

Amid spaces of such a simple life,

Traced with steps of wearied legs

Born of travails and journeys long.

Call me, Call me too...

Is this for me, or you?

Hands of help along this path wave,

Entreaties entire listen to close words

Of offering and jagged realities.

Time is simple essence of life's presence.

I'm Pending, following too...

This is for me, and always... you...

[Pete]

OK, I've settled some, enough to get this out of my system and on board...it helps...

Ode for Al:

Melancholia Musica

Pining boughs among wayward winds

Skyward above verdancy supreme,

Waftings of briny bottle green seas

And the simple music of the forests.

Tell me, Tell me true...

Is this me, or is this you?

Rubbled roads wound in the islands

Amid spaces of such a simple life,

Traced with steps of wearied legs

Born of travails and journeys long.

Call me, Call me too...

Is this for me, or you?

Hands of help along this path wave,

Entreaties entire listen to close words

Of offering and jagged realities.

Time is simple essence of life's presence.

I'm Pending, following too...

This is for me, and always... you...

Don,

Well done

Pete

[RudiK]

This news is very difficult to accept. When I was first diagnosed about 15 months ago, Al was there with suggestions of what to do, what not to do, what to ask the doctors and what to expect. He was here almost every day for all of us with suggestions and interpretations of what some test results meant and didn't mean, and how to follow up with our doctors.
This forum has lost one of its big contributors, I will miss him to no end.
Eileen, please accept my condolences, my prayers will be with you, your family and with Al.

Al, rest in peace, my friend.

[annekat]

Don, your Ode to Al is beautiful. It also reminds me of my father who lived in the San Juans, too, and passed away just before my Wegs dx last year. I will print it and put it up near my computer. It brings tears to my eyes, which is something I've needed sorely for the past year, and it will help me to properly grieve for both my father and for Al. They shared some interests and would have liked each other.

[marta]

Wow. What do you say? I've been staying off my computer and haven't seen much of anything for a while and Brian showed me this yesterday and I haven't shaken that horrible just kicked in the stomach feeling since then. This thing took him from us way too fast. We still had things to do and conversations to have. I'm shaken to the core, and am having a hard time accepting it.

Al is a person I strive to emulate. He is loving, caring, exceptionally generous with his time, knowledge and compassion. I feel so much richer having gotten to know him in the last year, and feel like he's a very close friend despite never having met him in person. What a crazy place we all inhabit here full of love and life and struggle, and survival and death. The last one especially sucks when the spirit still has so much left to do here. But Al lives in all of us now and just like with Jack, I will think from now on, what would Al do, what would he say, how would he handle this? I'm richer and better because I met Al, and he was an influence on me.

Rest in peace my friend, and no more pain. See you on the flip side.

[Rose]

Such a shock this morning finding out about the death of Al here on the forum. Condolences to his family and friends His wisdom, knowledge, humour, compassion, advice and friendship will be sorely missed,

[annekat]

Marta, earlier on, Kathy B suggested someone could write a statement on our behalf to be read at Al's memorial. What you wrote says it all and I think it would qualify, with some editing, maybe. Just an idea, doesn't have to happen.... In any case, we are all looking for the right words to say how we feel, and yours are a welcome addition to those already spoken.

[KathyB]

It sure sums up how we all feel along with Don's ode. I've not heard back yet from Eileen but will share our forum posts with her if she cannot access. I woke up this morning sad but with much more hope. I know Al is no longer in pain and still yearn for his words, but realize we are all better for knowing him. He still lives within us -- what a blessing! Thanks to all during this difficult time.

KB

[pberggren1]

I understand death very well, but none the less I still find Al's passing very hard to deal with. He will be missed forever.

I have known 12 other Weggies that have passed away in the past few months. I have also had 9 other good friends pass away in the last 2 years. I could not go to my one friend's funeral last month because of a medical appointment and that was hard to accept. But I know he understands why I could not come.