It’s been almost two weeks since Dan, my best, friend left this earth. He left quickly. About 5 weeks after leaning he was riddled with cancer. For some reason today has been especially hard. I miss him. I want to call as I did so many thousands of times. I just want to share a new wave image from Molokai with him. It really stings. Then I stop and remember all of the incredible memories I have. We co-led 40 tours in 10 years together. We traveled the world doing this. We met so many incredible people, many whom we now call friend. What a blessing. What a gift. I have his corny jokes to remember, if I can… I have the memories of how kind he was to my wife, daughter and grandkids. He knew what to say to encourage and love them. I will miss that and I know they will too. I know this will pass and the grief will become easier, but, right now, it is hard. If you’re reading this… thank you for holding me in my grief. I need that right now….
Thoughts are with you John. He was one of a kind.
Thanks so much Barbara. He sure was!
John we are always faced with this when we lose those close to us, I’ve experienced this four times in the past two years, my wife, two artist friends one a photographer the other a painter, and a fellow car nut – it’s the great times with them that keep me a float – your memories will help as you move forward
4 times! That is a lot to bear in such a short time. Thanks for your kind comment.
Dan was a good person, and he often told me how much you meant to him. Sometimes he’d show it with kind words, and sometimes he’d show it with his witty insults!
Great picture of you and Dan…but why do you look so much older than him?
I’m glad you got to be friends with Dan too. He really enjoyed the banter on emails he had with you. And he could never understand your celibacy…. 🙂
I’m so very sorry you are going thru this. Grief is so darn hard. Thinking of you
Thank you
Thank you, John, for sharing your thoughts about Dan. We have so many great memories of Dan from our wonderful photo tours with the two of you. We share your grief and are thinking of you, dear friend. Love and Hugs, Bill and Carla
Thank you Carla!
John, I know this has been tough on you. Dan was a great guy with such a good sense of humor. And of course, he was a great photographer. I know he’ll be missed.
Thank you Stan
The best I can do is hold you all in my prayers. Sad for your loss.
That is all I need. Thank you.
So sorry for the grief you feel; there’s never a good time to let go, is there?
Oddly, Ed’s stepfather, Bob Martin who worked with Dan at State Farm a long time ago also passed a couple of weeks ago, and my cousin. Threes – weird – same thing happened last year – three good friends. I won’t linger on that, but I will linger on the good times we had together with Dan. xox
He sure loved having you on our tours Felice. Always spoke fondly of you. Thank. you!
I was looking at my “Dan” file last night. Looking at pictures of him with folks he loved, pictures of him being goofy, pictures of him being focused and intent on taking perfect photos. I have snapshots of him from lots of people who sent them when I was making cards for him, and they are a treasure. When I am thinking of him, I open the file and look at the fun he had ad the happiness he brought to so many people. I am definitely one of the people whose life he (and you) changed forever. He loved and gave and lived WELL. And the grief we feel is the appreciation of the way he touched and improved us all.
Ah, John, I feel for you. And I was hoping that you would share wisdom on how grief can be good. I’ve not lost best friends this year, but many family members. Some of whom I were closer to than others. The grieving process is still unknown to me.