Sad night

[larrysh]

My dad died in April 2005 and since then I have, from time to time,
had this overwhelming urge to track down old friends from the neighborhood. High school friends who I hadn't seen or spoken with in years. At age 51, facing the fact I have less time left than I have already lived (where did it go?).

Tonight was one of those nights. You see, last week I got on this kick to see if I could locate any of my old Army buddies from the 1970's and
sure enough, I did locate one. And it was in talking with Jerry I was reminded of another friend of mine, Jack Biggars, who had been one of my very best friends during my teen years and who had, by coincidence, ended up stationed in the same town (different unit) when Jerry and I were there. Tonight I decided to track Jack down.

Jack's own story is particularly tragic. His parents committed murder-suicide here Houston back in the mid-80's. SOme of you may remember,
Jack's parents were hounded so bad by the I.R.S. that the day the I.R.S.
man came to seize their house and evict them, Mrs. Biggars shot and killed her husband and then shot and killed herself. I used to play
in that house.....

The long and short of it is that after about an hour on the Internet
and $150.00 in charges from one of those people finder services, I located my friend, Jack. He died May 1st, 2002, in a town in New Jersey
that I never heard of and can't pronounce. Cross-referencing property
ownership record from New Jersey back to Texas led me back to the
house Jack inherited when his parents killed themselves......

I feel sad for Jack and sadder still that I waited so long to try to reach him. The last time I spokle with him was in '86 or '87. He was
in Houston to bury his parents. I read about it in the Chronicle and
took a chance and called his old house and there he was. We promised
each other we'd get together before he left town to go back home.....

We never did.

[Redstone]

1. You've had a long day. Time to end it, and go to bed.

Trust me on this.

Redstone

[auntAgonist]

2. That is so very sad!

I'm sorry for your loss. I hope you have many good memories of your friendship with Jack. Call upon those memories and enjoy them. You cannot change what might have been.

aA
:hug:

[zulchzulu]

3. A late welcome to DU and a virtual hug as well

I've found out the some friends had passed before I could say goodbye...recovering from that takes time to heal. Just think of the good times you had and try to seal the relationship as best as possible. Maybe visit his grave if there is one for some kind of finality.

Take care.

[Dinger]

4. Sorry About You Dad, And Your Friend larrysh

I don't know what to say, except that I am thinking about you and praying for you. I am fortunate thatI have both my parents, but I know my day is coming soon. My stepdad killed himself some years ago, and time really did seem to help. Peace larrysh, and I really hope things get a lot better for you.

[Straight Shooter]

5. Jack may have done all right, as his life went on.

There are other old friends out there who would be glad to hear from you, I'm sure. You seem to have a heart of gold. That's a treasure these days.

And remember, he may have been thinking of you, too, wondering how you were. We all have regrets of what we have not done in time.

Peace.

[niyad]

6. I am so sorry for your loss. please take care of yourself, and reach out

to those you wish to contact, don't let more time go by