Dear So and So

[indysteel]

My friend who's been in the hospital for months in need of a new heart, whom I've posted in this thread about a few times, passed away this morning. I'm so thankful that I got to see him this past weekend and that he was still cracking jokes. He led a very full life, but that doesn't make it any easier that it was cut -so- short.

I'm pulling hard for all of you and your loved ones who are fighting health battles.

Oh, Badgercat. I am so sorry. That's tragic.

[OakLeaf]

Oh, badger, I'm so sorry for your loss.

[Biciclista]

Badgercat, I'm sorry for your loss. Amazing he was cracking jokes and passed so soon after that.
Gosh, I hope that's not what we are facing here.

[badgercat]

Thank you all--we only knew him for little over a year (and DBF spent quite a lot more time with him than I did), but he was one of those people who you would feel blessed to have met even only once. I'm 100 miles away from home for work right now--wish I could join DBF, who is at a gathering tonight celebrating our friend's life.

Mimi, I wish all the best to you and Don. You deserve some good news and outcomes.

[Biciclista]

D was so much better tonight than last night. what a relief! He's got 3 more days to build before Monday GAAAAAh

[jobob]

That's so good to hear, Mimi.

Wishing RD a, well, reasonably pleasant birthday this weekend. And next year, may both your birthday & his birthday be fabulous!

[jobob]

Very sorry for your loss, badgercat.

[Crankin]

I am sorry for your loss, Badger.
Mimi, I hope you can have a reasonably pleasant weekend with Don. You guys are tough and I know you can make it through this.

[spokewench]

Very sorry - ((((Badger))))

[azfiddle]

Badgercat-
We saw the post on the Tucsonvelo blog last night: http://tucsonvelo.com/. I'm so sorry for your loss. We never met him, but know he contributed to the Tucson cycling community - he must have been a great guy.

Mimi- glad to hear RD is showing some improvement.

[indysteel]

Badgercat-
We saw the post on the Tucsonvelo blog last night: http://tucsonvelo.com/. I'm so sorry for your loss. We never met him, but know he contributed to the Tucson cycling community - he must have been a great guy.

That breaks my heart. What a loss.

[badgercat]

Thanks again for all the kind words, and thanks to azfiddle for sharing the Tucsonvelo tribute. I first visited Steve's shop within a couple days of it opening (which I was tipped off to by a post on Tucsonvelo), and called DBF (who had broken a spoke) to tell him he had to bring his wheel straight away to this neat new shop with the really friendly owner. I walked back in a little while later proudly announcing, "I brought you another customer!"...except Steve didn't have any spokes in stock yet. He told us that if we could drop it off and come back later, he'd run over to another LBS and buy some. We shortly became among Steve's most loyal "friendstomers" as he dubbed us.

In the past several weeks, DBF and I have done a fair amount of legwork to help with his medical expenses--making a website, selling raffle tickets, soliciting donations, etc--now we're channeling that energy into fundraising for a memorial service.

I just searched for and found that original post about the shop opening. It was eerie to see that he had mentioned his heart condition in it, but is a nice snippet of Steve's enthusiasm, spirit, and vision for those of you who never got to meet him.

So, back to the spirit of the thread:
Dear "Dear So and So" enthusiasts,
Thanks for letting me share a little bit about a really great guy who was taken from the world far, far too soon.

[Biciclista]

oh he was so young!

[Owlie]

I'm sorry, Badgercat.

Dear certain company:
Wow, you guys are incompetent. Address to send package: On the order form, in the box. Typed.

[Catrin]

Badgercat, so sorry to hear the news...

Owlie, did the package show up?