Could this fucking horrible day get ANY fucking worse?

[Redstone]

9 AM: Phone call to tell me that my Uncle Tom died. God damn it. He was a great guy, and I say that not only because I used to stay with him at his place in Cambridge in the 1960s, right off Mass Ave and just down the street from Harvard, where I learned so much from the hippies that summer when I was 13. He seemed to be in pretty good shape for a guy in his seventies when he came up from Alabama to have Thanksgiving at our house last November. But I guess you never know.

10 AM: I find out, just at the time the funeral is happening, that the guy who was my best friend through high school and for years thereafter (though we got estranged in 2001 for reasons I don't want to discuss) died last Friday. This is a guy I spent half a million miles with (we were drivin' fools back in The Day), and the other half of the team who won all those Foosball tournament trophies (I was the better goalie, whether you'll admit it or not) that I still have downstairs somewhere. I'll smoke a 'Boro and drink a shot of Jack for you, buddy, and eat a cheesesteak hoagie at Pudge's in your memory as soon as I can. And I'll forgive you for turning into a Gun Nut and ruining our friendship by having done so.

Then there was more stress-producing unpleasantness an hour ago. Out of the clear blue sky, just like THAT, when I had hoped to get one fucking afternoon (because I know better than to expect an entire DAY) with no additional stress piled on top of all the stress I have already. But no. And I'll not discuss the source of THAT stress either, but the fact that it hasn't resulted in me having a heart attack yet says that I really AM a tough son of a bitch...though, this day, I certainly don't feel like one.

Fuck me. I know I've had worse days (the day when I got shot would probably qualify, but that was a long time ago), but this is one day I'd rather not have had.

Thank you all for allowing me to whine.

It's funny, when I was a kid, my parents thought there was something wrong with me because I didn't cry. Ever. But right now, I think I'll go out and sit in the screen porch for a few minutes and weep. Maybe that will help me get ready to deal with whatever the hell is going to hit me next...and I hope so, because whatever the next thing is, I know it's not going to be something good.

Redstone

[geardaddy]

1. Sorry to hear it Redstone

Passing good vibes to you.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear Redstone...

Aw, sweetie...

Tears can be very therapeutic, and healing...

I'd call, but it sounds like you'd rather be alone now, and I respect that...

What a horrible bunch of occurences, and at you...

This is an impersonal universe we occupy, and I wish it were otherwise...

I hope you're so wrong about the next thing to hit...I so hope it's something wonderful, I really do...:hug:

Safe passage to your Uncle, and your old friend...

[Redstone]

3. Peg, thank you. Your intuition is correct; I don't think I could talk to anyone

on the phone right now.

You're a peach.

Redstone

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. I'm here for you, and you know it...

Anytime...:hug:

[LeftyFingerPop]

4. Jesus Redstone....

That's a lot of memories being called to the forefront at once.

I'm very sorry for your pain today.

I hope you are able to cry over this, it will make you feel better.

Best wishes.

[Blue Diadem]

6. I'm so sorry Redstone

I can't offer much but a hug.
:hug:

Sad day here too.

[ceile]

7. Oh goodness.

So sorry, Redstone. When it rains it pours, no? :hug:

[livetohike]

8. Sorry for the loss of your Uncle and friend Redstone

:hug: I hope the good memories you have of times with both of them will help ease the sadness.

[KitchenWitch]

9. I am so sorry for your losses.

I hope things get on a better course for you soon.

[LynzM]

10. Oh geez, Redstone....

What a shitty day full of awful news. I'm so sorry. :( Please PM me or call me if there's anything I can do, ok? :hug: I hope that whatever the next thing is, that it surprises you by being positive.

[Redstone]

21. Thanks, Lynz. You're a good friend; probably a better one

than I deserve.

Redstone

[shaniqua6392]

11. I am sorry for your losses Redstone.

I hope things will get better for you soon. All I can offer is a hug. :hug:

[puerco-bellies]

12. Sorry about your day and your loved ones.

A little porch time would be appropriate, and healthful.

[Redstone]

25. Thanks, p-b. I appreciate your words, and will get to thanking the others

when I can.

Good thing I stored up all those tears when I was a kid.

Redstone

[SeattleGirl]

13. That IS totally fucked, Redstone.

No words, but many hugs for you. :hug:

[ThomCat]

14. I am very sorry.

That's a whole lot of stress. I hope your wife is there with you, and good company to help you get through all of this.

:hug:

I hope the good memories are what you remember most, and the future calms down and gets better.

[Redstone]

17. Nobody is here with me. I'm dealing with it myself, as I have always dealt with

everything. But I'm good at doing that, so it's OK.

And I thank you, and all the other wonderful DUers who have responded, for your concern and kind words.

Redstone

[bicentennial_baby]

15. ...

:hug:

[flvegan]

16. Sorry you're having such a sucky day, sir.

And I'm sorry for your losses.

Feel like kind of a heel having posted just now about how great my day is going. Crap.

[Redstone]

18. No, do NOT "feel like a heel." I'm going to go read about your good day,

and I'll feel better after having done so.

OK? I'll be happy to have read something to cheer me up.

Redstone

[SKKY]

19. Redstone, as the Spanish say...

..."Lo que no mata engorda," or "What doesn't kill you fattens you up." Sounds like you've gained a couple of pounds today. You'll come out of this in short order. People like you usually do.

[lost-in-nj]

20. I am so sorry about your friend and your Uncle

You always have something great to say to me when I have
one of my bad days.....

I wish with all my heart I had something to say that would make you feel a little better, maybe just a little smile.......


:hug:

I hope your other source of stress is a little better now to.....


lost

[Phillycat]

22. Yikes, sounds shitty!

Take solace in the fact that everything changes. Hope it gets better. :hug:

[Midlodemocrat]

23. I'm so sorry.

:hug:

Hope things get better soon.

[Debi]

24. I'm so sorry Redstone

:hug:

And here I am whining about my very bad not good awful day. x(

I wish you well.

d.

[Bake]

26. Tomorrow's gotta be better.

At least one can hope. Sorry for your loss.

Bake

[Ellen Forradalom]

27. Hey pal

:hug:

I know. The last of my father's brothers passed on last Friday. A friend was seriously injured in a bike accident last Saturday. My dog had a seizure last night. My boss was fired and I'm sad about that. I have to make an agonizing life choice soon.

What are you drinkin'?

[Redstone]

30. Amazingly enough, I'm not drinking anything. I'll have that shot of JD tomorrow in

memory of my friend...but today, it's just so much of too much, that alcohol would be counterproductive.

Yes, I really just said that. Who'd have believed it?

Hang in there, my stalwart friend. You and I, we'll get through our lists of sadness.

We will.

Because what choice do we have?

Redstone

[Ellen Forradalom]

34. Thanks there friend

Sometimes the way to get through is to hang up the "CLOSED" sign-for the rest of the day, the week, or a month or two. I've done that, and strangely, I still have a life.

[Redstone]

40. "Hang up the CLOSED sign." What great advice. Thank you.

Redstone

[Ellen Forradalom]

49. Gone Fishing. Come Back Later.

[bigwillq]

28. I am very sorry for your losses.

Sorry you are having a bad day. Sometimes letting out the tears, and the emotion, helps. Hope you were able to do so. Take care. :hug:

[Redstone]

42. Louis's Lunch. Soon. You and me. I can't bring my son, because he's a

Ketchup Addict.

But I'll try one of those burgers the way they make them. As will you, yes? We'll do it for the sake of Posterity and History.

Redstone

[From The Ashes]

29. I'm sorry, Red...

:hug:

[Haole Girl]

31. That is quite a horrible day...

I'm sorry to hear about your uncle and your friend.

Some day, when/if you want to, I'd like to hear about the day you got shot. You know how curious I get about things. But if you'd rather not share the story, I completely understand.

:hug:

[Redstone]

43. Not only did I get shot, I got shot off the skid of a helicopter after I had been told

more than once, "DON'T RIDE THE SKID!"

Next time someone tells you to not ride the skid, listen to them.

Redstone

[Haole Girl]

48. I'll remember that! lol

Hope you are able to get some rest tonight, Redstone. :hug:

[OmahaBlueDog]

32. Seriously, if you can manage it, go hit a gym right now

If you're not a member of one, go to a Y and pay the drop in fee. Doing some cardio or hitting some weights really does help the brain secrete stress controlling chemicals. You sound like you need stress controlling chemicals.

I'm sorry for your loss and whatever the Hell part 3 was.

[Redstone]

44. Not an option for me, though I appreciate your suggestion.

I am far too damaged physically for a gym to be an option.

Though were I not, your suggestion would have been a good one, and it's appreciated nonetheless.

Redstone

[lightningandsnow]

33. ...

:hug:

[BlueIris]

35. ExCUSE me, Madame Universe! Stop messing with my beloved Redstone!

That is an order!

Feel better soon, Redstone.

[Redstone]

46. BI, my heart, I cannot thank you enough for pitching your good thoughts into

my thread...especially this one where I really needed it.

Out of all the wonderful DUers I've encountered since joining this place, there's been something different and special about you.

You and I have a connection that we may, or may not be able to explore some day. If we can explore that, or if we can't, well, what will happen is what will happen (or not), yes?

Redstone

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

36. Aw. That's just awful.

:hug:

Hope tomorrow is better.

[leftyclimber]

37. "Sorry" seems so insufficient -- let's try this:

:hug:

[RetroLounge]

38. Damn, Redstone.

Good vibes your way my friend.

:hug:

RL

[1gobluedem]

39. So sorry to hear of your losses

Piled on top of each other, it's almost too much to bear. Having just come from the third visitation for the fourth death that has happened in the families of people close to me, I understand what you're going through.

I hope in time the pain subsides and you take comfort in the memories of your uncle and friend.

[Robb]

41. Fucking life.

Every time, every single time you think you've got it licked, it kicks you in the nuts again. And you crumple, because you just got kicked in the balls.

It all does make you stronger, and I can prove it. Remember the kick-ass you that thought you had it all figured out ten years ago? Looking back, that guy was a moron. Because you learned so much since then.

And the guy you think has it figured out today, tomorrow, is next year's jackass.

The reward is you get better every time. Around every corner, no matter what jumps out and bites you, is an even better you. Every single time. I promise. I've got evidence.

It's no 72 virgins, no pot of gold, but it's real and it's you.

Honor the ones that are gone, and everything they taught you. Hang in there buddy.



Edited because I can't spel for shet.

[abq e streeter]

45. Wish I could think of something more eloquent and/or helpful to say

than I'm so sorry, and that I hope the love and support of family and friends and the people wishing you the best here on DU will be a source of at least some comfort and strength to you.

[Radio_Lady]

47. I'll hold you in my thoughts tonight, Redstone. I had a crappy day, too, but nothing like yours.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=7662302&mesg_id=7662302

Mine doesn't seem so bad now.

Stay calm, friend.

"This, too, shall pass away." One of my father's favorite sayings.

I find that watching comedy turns the day's dust into spirals of laughter.

I will light candles for your uncle and the friend whose life touched yours for a while.

We all have ... "just for awhile" written in our DNA.

Good night, my Connecticut friend.

Radio Lady Ellen in Oregon

[nemo137]

50. I'm sorry, friend.

I wish I had something better to say.

[Rhiannon12866]

51. Oh, wow, and I've been feeling depressed...

So sorry that this hit you all at once, my friend. Be easy on yourself and know that none of this was your doing, and that things have to get better. And think about the good memories you had, both with your uncle and better days with your friend. I know I sound sappy, but this is all I've got, but that doesn't make it not true. Your friends on DU are always here for you, obviously, and that should mean quite a lot...

Rhiannon:hug:

[BreweryYardRat]

52. I'm terrible at expressing sympathy, but I really am sorry to hear this.

You're a stand-up guy and don't deserve this shit.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

53. I'm so sorry Redstone

My deepest and sincerest thoughts, prayers, condolences and sympathies to you and your family on the loss of your uncle and my thoughts, prayers and best wishes for whatever else is causing you stress:hug: :hug:

[Redstone]

54. Thank you ALL for your words and thoughts. Today is better, indeed.

Redstone

[MsKandice01]

57. Glad to hear it...

:hug:

[applegrove]

55. Crying is important. You just let go and do it. Sometimes the only way

to cope with shit.

[RainDog]

56. condolences

something still and peaceful for you-

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

58. I don't consider it whining at all. . .

DAMN - you have had an awful, horrible, no-good, very bad day (to say the least). My condolences to you.
Bullwinkle925 (writing under DeposeTheBoyKing's nom de plume whilst visiting).

Take care .

:hug:

[Sugar Smack]

59. Hi, cuz.

My love to you on this awful day. I'm so sorry to hear of the bad news that's happened in your life today. May your uncle Tom and your buddy rest in peace. Do you know, I think it may have helped you a little to put it out here, and then to go spend some time with yourself. I hope it did. I care about you. I wish you peace.

[leftofthedial]

60. that's a tough day, Redstone.

Hang in there.

[kmla]

61. Sorry for your losses, Redstone.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Peace to you.

kmla

[otherlander]

62. I'm sorry, Redstone.

:(

:hug:

[Eurobabe]

63. Sorry for your multiple losses

and I hope you have a better day tomorrow. Nothing wrong with a good cry sometimes. :hug:

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

64. Not whining at ALL

Trouble comes in threes - I hope you have had the end of yours. Cry as much as you need to and get it all out. I'm sorry for your losses. :hug:

[Xipe Totec]

65. Family have accused me of being a heartless asshole

Because I did not cry at my father's funeral.

But my mother knows better; she found me after the funeral, curled up in a closet weeping like a baby.

20 years after he passed away, people thought he still lived because I spoke of him in the present tense.

I cry, but never in public. So I know what you mean. It's easier to let your feelings out in this anonymous medium.

Go for it.

[libodem]

66. My thoughts are with you

deepest sympathies, Redstone.