Bob was a very special person, and I loved him very deeply.
I cannot remember anytime in my life that I have ever 
experienced this much heartache and sorrow.  I will forever 
miss his frequent (sometimes daily) phone calls to ask, 
"how are you?",  "do you need anything", "can I do anything
for you?".  But what I miss the most is hearing him say, 
"I love you" and feeling his arms wrapped around me in the
warmest, tightest hug you could ever get from someone.

I was lucky to have had Bob in my life for so many years.  He
was the best friend a person could have - the most generous 
and genuine, hard-working person I have ever met.  He had the 
biggest, most caring heart and touched everyone he met in a 
good way.  His crass, sometimes very vulgar sense of humor 
was not always understood or tolerated by some, but to those 
who loved him and knew him, it almost always made us laugh 
until we cried.  His sense of humor was unique, and to me, 
was part of his charm.  

A piece of me went with Bob, and I don't know when I will 
ever feel whole again.  But in, time, I know I will.  It will just 
take time.  They say time heals all wounds.  The question I find
myself asking is, "how MUCH time?"

I just have to hope that he is finally at rest and that his 
soul is at peace.  When I get overwhelmed with grief, I try to
believe that.  It gives me some comfort.  I also remind myself 
of the words in his will which told us to remember him with 
"smiles" and not "tears".   That is what he wanted.  He RARELY 
asked for ANYTHING from us.  So, we must honor his wishes and 
do this for him. 

When it is my time to go, I believe he will come down to guide 
the way to wherever it is we go after this life, and that I 
will get to hug him and laugh with him again.  Despite my anger 
with "God" right now, I do still believe that.  ~smile~...

Bob's Service was held on August 28, 2003.  It was a beautiful
service.  He would have been proud.  The service started with
the minister reading the poem, "The Dash" in which she made some
changes to in her version to pertain to a male (as you will see, 
the original was written referencing a woman:

"The Dash"
Copyright 1996 by Linda Ellis

I read of a reverend who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
from the beginning...to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
and spoke of the following date with tears.
But he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
that she spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved her
know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own;
the cars...the house...the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard.
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left.
You could be at dash mid-range.

If we could just slow down enough
to consider what's true and real
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
and more often wear a smile...
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.
So when your eulogy is being read
with your life's actions to rehash,
would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent your dash?

Bob included funeral arrangement requests with his will.  Part
of these wishes included songs to be played during his service.
Each song had a special meaning for Bob.  Those who knew him
well, knew exactly what those meanings were and felt his 
presence during those songs.  He requested Alice Cooper's,
"Skool's Out" as the last song to be played.  The minister
and family all agreed that it was not appropriate to play that
song at his service.  As always, upon hearing that, everyone 
attending could not help but laugh.  Even in his death, he was
able to make us smile once again.  I have included the songs 
and lyrics on this page.

Tbe following is the midi you hear playing when you enter this 
page:

"Time To Say Goodbye" (Con te partirï)

Sung by Sarah Brightman & Andrea Bocelli

Note: the words in italics in square brackets are from the 
original version of the song as sung by Andrea alone, and 
their translation in English.

 

 

Sarah:

Quando sono sola
sogno all'orizzonte
e mancan le parole,
si lo so che non c'è luce
in una stanza quando manca il sole,
se non ci sei tu con me, con me.
Su le finestre
mostra a tutti il mio cuore
che hai accesso,
chiudi dentro me
la luce che
hai incontrato per strada.

 

Time to say goodbye.    [Con te partirò.]
Paesi che non ho mai
veduto e vissuto con te,
adesso sì li vivrò.
Con te partirò
su navi per mari
che, io lo so,
no, no, non esistono più,
it's time to say goodbye.
                                       [con te io li vivrò.]

 

Andrea:

Quando sei lontana
sogno all'orizzonte
e mancan le parole,
e io si lo so
che sei con me con me,
tu mia luna tu sei qui con me,
mio sole tu sei qui, con me,
con me, con me, con me.

 

Time to say goodbye.    [Con te partirò.]
Paesi che non ho mai
veduto e vissuto con te,
adesso sì li vivrò.
Con te partirò
su navi per mari
che, io lo so,
no, no, non esistono più,

 

Both:

con te io li rivivrò.
Con te partirò
su navi per mari
che, io lo so,
no, no, non esistono più,
con te io li rivivrò.
Con te partirò.

 

Io con te.

Time to say goodbye    [I'll go with you]

 

 

When I'm alone
I dream of the horizon
and words fail;
yes, I know there is no light
in a room where the sun is absent,
if you are not here with me.
At the windows
show everyone my heart
which you set alight;
enclose within me
the light you
encountered on the street.

 

Time to say goodbye.    [I'll go with you]
to countries I never
saw and shared with you,
now, yes, I shall experience them.
I'll go with you
on ships across seas
which, I know,
no, no, exist no longer;
it's time to say goodbye.
             [with you I shall experience them.]

 

 

When you are far away
I dream of the horizon
and words fail,
and, yes, I know
that you are with me;
you, my moon, are here with me,
my sun, you are here with me
with me, with me, with me.

 

Time to say goodbye.    [I'll go with you]
to countries I never
saw and shared with you,
now, yes, I shall experience them.
I'll go with you
on ships across seas
which, I know,
no, no, exist no longer,

 

 

with you I shall experience them again.
I'll go with you
on ships across seas
which, I know,
no, no, exist no longer,
with you I shall experience them again.
I'll go with you.

 

You and me

I Miss My Dance Partner...

**MIDI FILE: obtained from
http://www.spacestar.com/users/shiznitt/Midi/country.htm

Looking back on the memory of 
The dance we shared 'neath the stars alone 
For a moment all the world was right 
How could I have known that you'd ever say goodbye 

And now I'm glad I didn't know 
The way it all would end the way it all would go 
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain 
But I'd of had to miss the dance 

Holding you I held everything 
For a moment wasn't I a king 
But if I'd only known how the king would fall 
Hey who's to say you know I might have chanced it all 

And now I'm glad I didn't know 
The way it all would end the way it all would go 
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain 
But I'd of had to miss the dance 

Yes my life is better left to chance 
I could have missed the pain but I'd of had to miss the dance 

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want;
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters,
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for His name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil;
for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff,
they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
thou annointest my head with oil,
my cup overflows.
Surely the goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for ever.

                              Psalm 23