Hi Les,
It’s hard to tell from just a photo but it looks like Bill was a fun-loving guy.
Did he have any hobbies?

Very nice tribute.

He had many of the same hobbies I do: video games, pen and paper RPGs, being a professional geek, etc. Don’t know how much of the archives you’ve read as I talked about Bill’s death quite a bit back when it occurred, but we had been friends for over 20 years and he was like a brother to me. Bill stuck with me during my asshole years when many other friends didn’t and he helped me to become a better person than I was simply by being a true friend.

I had intended to write a bit more about the occasion than what I put up, but I was overcome with grief last night and that was all I could manage. The wound has scabbed over pretty well, but there are still moments that bring it all back again and, ironically, it was getting that stupid iPod that triggered it because it’s exactly the sort of thing I would’ve called Bill about as soon as I got home to talk to him about. We were always sharing new gadgets with each other or what the latest game we got was about or what we thought of a particular movie we’d just seen. Back when I was into anime big time and was attending conventions around the country, Bill was often my traveling companion. Not because he had a big love for anime, but because he enjoyed going along for the trip and meeting new people.

It’s nice to see you still honor the memory of your friend. Sometimes when you’re busy and life is going on we so often forget our fallen friends and family members. It’s nice to see that’s not always the case.

My friends, Jim and Dougal, and I, meet at Dougal’s every Friday evening for a couple or few beers.
My mum died 10 years ago, Dougal’s died four years ago and Jim’s died three years ago.
I have my mobile (phone) programmed to BEEP!BEEP!BEEP! at me at 6pm every Friday and we all raise our VB [Victoria Bitter - 24 beers in a carton - 24 hours in a day - coincidence?] stubbies (what do you call those 375 ml bottles of beer over there? I‘m in Oz)) and say: Cheers ladies - Inez, Peg and Carrie.
I know it’s short and sweet and sometimes I feel guilty about having a BEEP!BEEP!BEEP! remind me of HER but on the other hand it’s a nice way to remember the most important influence in my life.

Jim & Dougal imagine their mothers looking down on them - I’m not too sure but I do know that “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy“ (Hamlet: 1:5).

And, I know that all ‘religion’ probably stemmed from an ancient man’s realisation that the stars must be the fruit belonging to a much higher being.

And, I always try to be aware of the Life’s Basic Laws:
Do the right thing: your conscience will be clear and automatically good seeds are sown.
This is basic agriculture.
Every situation has more than one crisis or opportunity within it.
You will see what you want to see, as your Mood and Programming dictates.
Don’t panic. This too shall pass.
Trust in the universe’s laws and relax.
No confusion, no fear, no stress.
If the one-god exists he cannot ignore you.
This is basic logic.
No magic.
Believe it or not.
Do not send money.

My ego would love to think this was original, but …

And I’ve had more than 4 stubbies so I should quit while I think I’m ahead …

Lucky John 19,

As you salute your Mom --I salute you!  I will take your basic laws and put them with my words to reread!

Momma

@};- (’net rose) Bill.

Les:  10 years ago this week, my sister and best friend died of AIDS. She had the dubious distinction of being one of the 1st women in our state to be diagnosed.  She was infected long before most people knew what it was, but the man who infected her knew at the time that he had it.  The rage, disbelief and loss will never go away.  It will barely scab over and the slightest little thing will rip it wide open and bloody again.

Your life goes on, you are happy again and there may even be a day once in a while you don’t think about it.  Then it hits you again full force in the soul and your knees practically buckle and you sob and howl until you can sob and howl no more.

Sorry to say this, but some things you just never get over.