Good friend of mine died last night.

[SirPeale]

Guy named Chris.  Nicest guy in the world.  I hadn't spoken to him in a while.  He works at the same company my wife does.

She called me earlier, said she was going to be a little late.

Comes home, says she's got something to tell me, and that was why she was late.  I was figuring something bad happened to her at work.

I guess he hadn't been feeling well that day, and took the day off from work.  Some co-workers went over to his house last night and played cards with him.

His mom couldn't get ahold of him, so she went over to his apartment, and found him.

I'm just...upset.  He was only twenty-five.

I kept telling myself I'd call him, we'd go out for a beer, he'd come over and play the Mame cab he helped drag into my house.  I just put it off again and again.

Too late now.

[SOAPboy]

Sounds like the guy that lives next door that died.. .

he was always quiet.. one night when a window was busted out of my gfs car that i was fixing, he asked what happened.. he offered to help me find the people who did it and destroy there lives.. never talked to the guy before that.. he was in a band, yadda yadda.. then one day his car never left.. figured day off.. didnt leave for a week.. then we heard his gf screaming..

yeah..


sucks bro.. sorry about the loss..

been there a few dozen times.. itll heal..

[mr.Curmudgeon]

I'm sorry to hear that Peale, condolences. Don't beat yourself up over the missing time spent with him...you couldn't have known.

I just got back from a funeral on Monday, myself.

[RacerX]

You have my sympathy, Peale.  It's always tough to lose someone close to you, especially someone so young.

[Jabba]

My condolences, Peale.

[SirPeale]

Thanks a lot, guys.

They'll be doing an autopsy.  I'm guessing it has something to do with his weight.  He was a really big guy.

It's weird.  I've got the Toy Story Two Pack he gave to our son for his first birthday.  He helped move my fighters cab into our house a year ago.  I worked closely with him for two years before transferring.

And now he's gone.  He was a genuinely nice guy.  Would have done anything for you.

Why not some scumbag child molester?  Why him?

[missioncontrol]

sorry to hear.......my condolences........

[IMMark]

So sorry to hear...I don't think there is anyone one of us that have friends we mean to call and get together with...maybe if something good can come out of this...lets make it a point to call/get together with; those people we have been meaning to...life is to short...live it every day!

[Dexter]

Very sorry to read about your loss Peale. There is nothing worse that that feeling that there was something you could have done. One of my very oldest mates took his own life two years ago. We were part of a close group of perple who were growing up and gradually moving apart. Just before he died he was talking about how thngs weren't the same but of course you never expect someone close to you to end it. We had lost two friends previously in violent deaths (shootings) and he was one of us that coped the best with these tradegies.

You never know, and I've spent a lot of time wondering 'what if I'd dragged him out for a crazy weekend', but in the end I'm starting to accept that regret and guilt is not what he'd want any of us to live with as a result of his sad death.

Stay strong dhief

[SOAPboy]

Thanks a lot, guys.

They'll be doing an autopsy.

[Shape D.]

I'm sorry to hear about that peale. It's always hard losing a friend when they die at a youg age. I had a very close friend of mine commit suicide about 8 years ago, and I don't think theres a day that goes by without me thinking about him. But for what  it's worth I hope it will heal in time and I'm sorry for your loss.

[SirPeale]

Just got back from the services.  I was able to find what had happened.

Aparently he had died due to complications from diabetes.  He didn't even know he had it!  He hadn't been feeling well, and the doctor suspected that perhaps this might be the case.  He had scheduled tests for last Friday, and Chris rescheduled them for today.  If he hadn't, he might still be here now.

I've just got two final things to say.

1) I know there are some hefty guys here.  The heft is what ultimately gave Chris the diabetes and killed him.  For the sake of your health, and for your loved ones, please, lose the weight.  You never think something's going to happen to you, until it actually does.

2)If there's one thing I've learned from all this, it's to *not* put off friends and family.  I kept telling myself that I'd call him and we'd have a beer, or just hang out.  Every day I'd think that, and never do it.  Not any longer.  You never know what will happen.  Pick up the phone, write a letter, type an email.  I'm sure everyone has friends they have lost touch with.  Go!  Let them know you care.

[RacerX]

Excellent advice, Peale.  Words we should all live by.