Link?

None of you know him, but allow me one small indulgence. I had known Tim since 1972 when we met in college, and we remained friends until yesterday. Along with another friend, we shared a house for a couple years. Over the years we played golf and poker together. With our wives, we'd go to the Cape for a golf and poker weekend every so often. I was an usher in Tim's wedding, a cold Valentine's day when we drank shots at 10:00 am to ward off the well below freezing temperature.

Even though we didn't see each other as often as time went on and life became more complicated, we remained close. We'd play golf a couple times every summer. After the others left, Tim and I would stay until the evening sun went down. I'd have one drink; Tim would usually have three. Our conversations ranged from family to friends to work to whatever was bothering us. Every summer for at least twenty years we would go to Tim's for our annual 4th of July party, always one of the highlights of the summer . Last year, I brought along my daughter, granddaughter, and son-in-law for the first time.

Tim would be one of the pallbearers at my wife's funeral. My third date with Mary was at Tim and Lynn's house for a New Year's Eve party in 1987. Tim and Lynn invited us to stay that night, but we hadn't slept together yet, a situation we rectified later after a long drive home. Of course, neither Mary or I let on that was the reason we couldn't stay. Tim and Lynn like to think that was the date that really brought us together.

When Tim, Bones, and I shared a house, Tim owned the stereo, so he got to play most of the music, which invariably was Frampton Comes Alive every day. After months of this, Bones and I decided one drunken evening that record had to go. It did--in small pieces.

Yesterday, I celebrated my 65th birthday with my family, my brothers, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, great nieces, my daughter, granddaughter, and son-in-law. I began the day by driving to the cemetery to visit Mary's grave. I thought of her and Tim who had been being cared for by hospice at home. Bones texted me yesterday morning to send birthday wishes, and we planned to visit Tim early this week.

Tim died yesterday. He was a good man, a father, a husband, and a great friend. We knew each other's quirks and failings, shared who we had been and what we would become.

Sorry for you loss, John. There are no friends like old friends. The one who help made us who we are.

And happy birthday!

Condolences John. Long-time friends become family.

And yes, Happy Birthday also.

I would guess you're perfectly capable of bringing along your own ear torture.

I immediately forgot the song and the name of the singer. Short memory does have it's benefit.

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John Cole, condolences and happy birthday. Bittersweet, man.

salmon and steelhead trout fishing on the coast is dismal this year. it is man caused of cause. it is either the man caused giant warm blob of water north of the coast or just too many fish being caught by sport and commercial fishermen in the outside waters, probably both.

now they blame it on too many sea loins and they need to be killed. they already killed many cormorants and terns on the columbia river. that is part of the problem but not the cause.

Go Red Sox.

I hate sea lions (California or Stellar), they are barking, smelly, blubber pods of worthless flesh. They remind me too much of the many people I see on a daily basis along the coast.

your imagination will be the death of you. sea lions are cute. ask the californians that come to hang around your town

i dont watcha da stupid baseaball in my house.

John

God bless your friend Tim

I agree with Ray. Sea lions are kinda cute. Noisy, but cute.

Red Sox up 5-3.

Thanks, Schlitz.

Zeno, I know you're joking (probably), but do you realize the culmination of these kinds of posts makes you a bit unlikable? John seems to like you, so that's a plus in your favor.

I feel like Zeno doesn't give to ****s if you like him.

I never lived near sea lions, but I did live near a lot of roosters while I was down in Florida. I have no idea how the myth of them only crowing at the crack of dawn got started, but my observation is they crow every moment but the crack of dawn.

I suspect living near a bunch of animals that made this sound all day, I'd go nuts:

Today's complaint is that I have to sign up for health insurance. I have no idea how this stuff works. To make it worse, I actually don't even know how to sign up.

lol that I get

You ever been around numerous loud barking sea lions infesting boat docks? Worse than sea gulls craping on your car. I've hated these beasts ever since seeing them as a kid, I grew up near the Pacific Ocean. They are protected and proliferation is rampant. They need culling to cut down their numbers.

Misanthropes are not concerned about likability. But I'm quite likable by perhaps 1% of the human population. And if you do the math that is a large amount of people.

I think that I would like you Dom if we ever met, if that means anything.

Red Sox in control!

And by the way there is big difference between sea lions and seals. Many conflate the two.

Granddaughter: "Grandpa, what does 'decimate' mean?"

Me: "To reduce in number by one tenth."

Daughter: "Try again, Grandpa."

Me: "Okay, Ellen, it means to destroy completely."

I saw both cavorting this summer.

zeno you are a grouchy old grumpy man.