My poor friend. Worked his life away, about to retire

[ghostsinthemachine]

His wife in another year.

The guy is my longest known acquaintanceship, since 1959. Moved into the same subdivision three weeks apart. He and I, when we were ten and a guy knocked on both our doors and was offering guitar lessons. We both wanted to be Beatles, so we talked our parents into springing for them. My parents would only let me take steel guitar lesson (no rock and roll, no folk,only country) and his let him take electric guitar. I quit almost immediately, never to play guitar again. Grant kept at it and by Jr high was pretty good.

His Mom (she was a single parent when that wasn't cool) got cancer and Grant got shipped off to LA to live with his Dad, when his Mom was dying. Didn't see him for decades. Then one day at a blues festival they introduced the band and said his name! He was the guitar player, and a damn good one too. We were reintroduced and stayed friends ever since.

He and his wife were state workers and grant told me how he didn't chase music in favor of work and the security. He ran local Sunday blues jams.
I stopped in on one last week and he wasn't there. He hadn't been there a couple of weeks ago either, so I asked someone where he was. He told me that Grant's wife was diagnosed with some kind of aggressive breast cancer and that they were moving to Missouri for some kind of experimental treatment. WOW! So sad that was to hear. So close to the brass ring.....

That was Sunday night. I pick up the paper today and read a story about a guy,innocent as can be, that gets killed by a 19 year old asshole, in a car wreck Sunday night. In my and Grant's hometown. The 19 year old was being chased by police. The guy who died was Grant's brother, Craig. Wrong place, wrong time.

Now Grant has to deal with a move to Missouri this week and bury his brother and deal with all that goes with that, along with his wife having cancer.

You just never know do ya? Just when it looks like easy street, there is danger at your door. Poor guy.

[hollysmom]

1. sometimes life sucks, but I can understand this, Just had to cremate my baby brother only 56

He died 6 months to the day after his wife, who died after being diagnosed with cancer, the same cancer I had, only I got away easy, got it early. When they told her she thought she would survive, I did after all, but it had spread on her and was in her lungs, hospital immediately and a horribly painful death only 2 weeks later.
sometimes life sucks.

[ghostsinthemachine]

2. Man that's tough. Sorry

For you and my friend.

[merrily]

4. I am so sorry about your sorrows, too. Peace.

[riderinthestorm]

6. My deepest sympathy

I am so sorry for your loss.

[merrily]

3. I am so very sorry. Best thoughts for peace to all.

[riderinthestorm]

5. Such a sad story. Hope your friend and his wife finds success and healing in MO nt

[democrank]

7. I`m so sorry.

Hope Grant finds the strength he needs.