I'm trying very hard to hold it all in perspective, since it is a part of life - and we know that one day that happens to all of us.

He lived a wonderful life, and did many things few people can ever say they have done.

He was a pilot, a veteran of an unappreciated war, an outdoorsman who has extensively hiked the Appalachian Train in America, and a photographer who never skipped the chance to get a picture if he could find the right angle.

I look across the street and see his Jeep parked in another friend of mines driveway (he was his father) and remember him walking around just a few weeks ago - it all happened that suddenly. His health seemed to fail all at once, as if it was time for that to happen.

He was an agricultural airplane pilot (SEE ALSO: Crop Duster) after the war, and used to tell me the most amazing stories about stupid stuff that happened to airplanes in flight - and all about the planes that he had experience with. Especially the rotten and screwed up stuff that happened to HIM!

I shared a love of many things with the guy, airplanes, nature, too much to list....

We drove around a few times in his jeep, and looked at the land when it was badly flooded (I live next to the Mississippi River, just above Memphis Tennessee) and found afterwards that the bluff where we had taken a view all around had collapsed - good thing it wasn't until after we left....

A fellow adventurer indeed.

As far as I know he never smoked or drank in his life, but he was an excellent gunsmith.

Now he ventures ahead - and one day I must surely join him.

I wonder what we will talk about then?

But in the meantime I am trying very damned hard not to miss him!

He was one of the people you may look all of your life without finding one of.

A true individual

And a true blue friend

~Wolfie

(Hey, you're not very far from me! I literally live south of Memphis just under the Mississippi border. )

It's okay. You're older than I am, so you obviously know all this, but it's unavoidable to feel a void or senseless loss when we lose a lover, a friend or a family member. It's healthy to admit it and not deny it. The key is not to let your grief consume you until yourself are a broken man. I'm sure your friend would cherish that you love him enough to keep him in your heart as he passes, but would he want you to eat yourself away mourning his loss? I doubt he would. So it's okay to accept your feelings of loss, but it's good to have others to help you through this if you feel it's nearly impossible to grieve alone. But remember, denial will only make the pain worse, Greywolf.

My condolences for your loss.

By unappreciated war you mean Korea, right?

Sounds like a good man. A good man indeed. My condolences.

He was a Viet Nam vet.

He didn't actually learn to fly until after he came home - looking at that and some other things I know about him I think he was looking for his own space.

A place where he would not be spat on.....

And I deny nothing - I have mentioned Edgar Cayce elsewhere on here, but it was looked at as a tin foil hat thing.

I have a perspective on who and what we are that few have.

The essential "WE" (who we actually are) never perishes.

But bodies are only temporary conveyances, they take us through the life we must experience depending on our spiritual learning needs.

One day they are no longer needed, or we fail the "class", and then they are gone.

WE ARE NOT

To an agnostic - that is pure heresy.

To me it is common sense.

The actual essense of Don is going to be around forever, he is only shedding a body that is no longer of any use to him.

So I believe

~ and one day I will meet him again - that too I firmly believe.

But for now I have life on earth to deal with...

To have met such a one while he was here was a true gift.

~In your life you may sometimes meet people that seem so familiar, you feel that you have known them before. In my view, that is entirely possible.

I don't mean to sound callous, but what is the topic here, what are we meant to discuss? You didn't really leave any room for discussion in this nice eulogy.

Sometimes discussion isn't necessary.

My condolences, Greywolf. Your friend sounds like a brave man. And his service is appreciated.

What does agnosticism have to do with anything? Agnosticism is just skepticism basically. Or did you mean atheism? In any case, this atheist sends you her condolences.

He'll be flying the friendly skies forever. My condolences, losing a friend is always difficult.

My condolences. Grateful for your friends service, as well.

I'm really sorry about your loss. From your description of him, I would have been proud to count him among my friends.

One of the things about getting older that no one told us (or did they tell us, and we just kind of nodded in passing when we were young?) is that you'll start attending a lot of funerals as friends and loved ones pass on. Treasure your time with them.