Poop Happens.

[SOteric]

I haven’t been having an easy time of it lately, and thus I’ve been around here even less than my usual ‘not a lot.’

My home PC suffered a total catastrophic hard drive failure. It came upon me rather suddenly. One day it worked fine with no warnings, the next day it was a $900 doorstop. I made great recovery CDs and have backups, but I’d have to be able to at least get into a prompt or some sort of program that utilises those CDs and that just wasn’t happening.

As traumatic as that was (and I must say, it was and IS fairly traumatic) a replacement hard drive had just been secured when I learnt my youngest brother, the one closest to me in age, the one closest to me… had been in a car accident on the way to work Friday morning.

Mike was driving a Saab sedan, and at 6’7” tall his head pretty routinely hit the ceiling of any car he was driving as a matter of course. The sudden impact at 60 mph crushed his skull and compressed and fractured his cervical spine. He died late Monday night without ever regaining consciousness. Mike leaves behind a sweet, soft spoken wife and two beautiful, very young children.

Our family is inconsolable. We adored our ‘BabyMike,’ a nickname given him in the spirit of Baby Huey. We called him the black sheep of the family, but not because he’d been troubled, rather because he was the only one not to be some sort of lawyer, cook or writer. He loved maths and sciences.

When we were teenagers, Mike and I would hang out at a parking lot near Boeing field and watch the planes take off. He noticed the little things. The different sound of the engines of different planes. It was Mike who first noticed my cat was crosseyed. Me, I was just in love with the fuzzy little mog and over the moon about what a beautiful shade of blue his eyes were, but Mike noticed the crossed eyes, the striping on his forepaws, the odd knot at the end of his tail. Those are among the things that made him a brilliant engineer.

I feel as though someone has carved off a chunk from my heart and run it through a food processor.
It may be a while yet before I find the energy to throw myself into rebuilding my hard drive. Take care of yourselves and play nice. I’ll be back sooner or later.

If y’all will excuse me, I’m going to go stock up on back issues of the KPOD, - strictly for medicinal purposes.

Fair winds and following sails, Mikey. You were deeply loved and you'll be deeply missed.

[lost-in-nj]

1. SOteric

:hug: to you and your family......

I have no words except
I'm sorry........

please take care of yourself.....
we will be here when your ready to come back.....



lost

[DS1]

2. Sorry babe

:hug:

[Fran Kubelik]

3. Oh esso!

Oh sweetie. I am so very sorry. I can't even begin to imagine. Please know that you and your family will be in my prayers. :hug:

I will be thinking of you. I am so sorry.

[bigwillq]

4. I am very sorry for your loss.

Thoughts and love to you and your family. What a terrible tragedy.


:hug:

[Shakespeare]

5. Oh, Esso. I'm so, so sorry for your loss.

My sister and I are very close, and I can only imagine the pain of such a loss.

All my best, and a huge hug for you. :hug:

[NJmaverick]

6. I am so sorry

:hug:

[amitten]

7. I am so so so very sorry...

:cry:

I wish you a sense of peace in the hard days to come. :hug:

[dolo amber]

8. Omg

I am so sorry. :hug:

[PeaceNikki]

9. Oh no...

I am so very sorry. Peace and love to your family.

:hug:

[medicswife]

10. I'm sorry.

:hug: You write of him so beautifully. Pax Vobiscum. Peace be with you.

[Magrittes Pipe]

11. Oh wow.

I don't have any words for that... I'm sorry, Esso. :hug:

[1gobluedem]

12. I'm so very sorry

My sympathy to you and your family and Mike's family. Please keep his wife and children close to you so you can tell them stories about their wonderful father.

:hug:

[asthmaticeog]

13. Oh god.

I'm sorry. My sincerest condolences to you and your family.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

14. I lost my brother too, so I know what you and yours are suffering.

I know it's small consolation, but know that the pain will fade with time.

My prayers are with you.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

15. very very sorry for your loss

hugs and best wishes

[billyskank]

16. Oh Jeez

:cry:

:hug:

:(

[jpgray]

17. Very sorry to hear that

:(

[Midlodemocrat]

18. Oh, my darling SO.

I am so, so sorry. There are no words. Please accept my deepest condolences on your tragic loss. My best to you and your family during this most difficult time.

Much, much, love.

M.

You have my number. Call if there is anything I can do. I'm a good listener. :loveya:

[flvegan]

19. I am so, so sorry for your loss.

I wish you, his family and friends my very best.

[mainegreen]

20. I'm so sorry.

:(

[LeftyFingerPop]

21. I'm very sorry...

My condolences to you and your family during this difficult time. :hug:

[terrya]

22. I'm so sorry about the loss of your brother, SOteric.

Mike sounded he was a great guy.

My sincere condolences to you and your family.

:hug:

[supernova]

23. Oh, I'm so very sorry

about your brother, Mike, SOteric.

Sudden accidents can be so much more traumatic than a long term illness, in that you don't have a way to prepare for it.

Please take care of yourself and we'll be here when you get back.

:hug:

[GOPisEvil]

24. You have my deep, sincere condolences.

:hug:

My thoughts are with you and your family.

[FloridaJudy]

25. I'm so sorry.

My sincerest condolences to you and your family.

[Gormy Cuss]

26. I'm very sorry for your loss.

My condolences to you and your family.

[LibraLiz1973]

27. I'm very, very sorry for your loss.

Peaceful thoughts being sent your way.

[LaraMN]

28. Oh wow, SO.

Words fail.
I can not even imagine your sadness.
Much love to you, honey.


:cry:
:hug:

[Blue Diadem]

29. Oh SOteric, I'm so very sorry.

My deepest sympathy on the loss of your wonderful brother. I pray for peace and comfort for you and your entire family. :hug:

[Redstone]

30. Holy Mary, Mother of God, I'm sorry for you. I hope time will provide healing.

Redstone

[Lil Missy]

31. I am so sorry for your loss. And what a touching tribute you wrote for him.

:(

[jonnyblitz]

32. ....

:hug:

[redwitch]

33. I am so sad for you. I cannot imagine losing any of my sibs.

especially so suddenly.


Safe passage Mike.

SOteric, a great big hug for strength from me to you. :hug:

[Bunny]

34. Oh no. I'm so very sorry.

:cry:

[RFKHumphreyObama]

35. I'm so very, very sorry beyond words SOteric

Words are inadequate at this time I know but rest assured you have my deepest, sincerest and most heartfelt thoughts, prayers, sympathies and condolences, as does your family.

We're all here for you:hug: Please take care and I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers

[Beaverhausen]

36. I'm so sorry

:hug: :cry:

[Xipe Totec]

37. Yes, it does happen

Nobody truly dies, until we forget them.

Nice tribute to your bro.

[undeterred]

38. I am so sorry.

Words fail me. :hug:

[undeterred]

39. I am so sorry.

Words fail me. :hug:

[yewberry]

40. Oh, gosh, I'm so sorry to hear that.

What a loss.

If there's anything I can do, please PM me. I'm a good errand-runner and you can yell at me if you feel like yelling at someone.

Really, really sorry. I can't imagine losing a brother.

[pokerfan]

41. I'm sorry, man

Words fail me.

[ThomCat]

42. I am very sorry for your loss of your brother.

:cry:

Please come back when you can. :hug:

[mnhtnbb]

43. Oh, man, I am so very sorry for the loss of your brother.

No words. Just hugs. :hug:

Too many good people are leaving us way too soon.

[SOteric]

44. Thank you everyone

for your kind thoughts and good wishes. It's a bit rough for me right now, but knowing you're thinking of us warms my heart.

Grouphug: